Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s): Soil Quality; Other Sustainable Resource Practices; Addressing Adverse Events
  • Type(s) of Measure: Payments Based On Fixed Farm Assets; Technical Assistance/Extension; Research/Education; Community-Based Measures

Policy / SHELTERBELT PROGRAM
Agency / The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA)
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / To enhance environmental sustainability and biodiversity through the use of shelterbelts and to contribute to economic development by encouraging diversification in areas such as agriforestry.
Delivery Mechanism / The program distributes (free of charge) trees and shrubs to qualifying landowners for planting in agricultural areas – Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta the Peace River region of British Columbia. The Shelterbelt Centre is 256ha in size, produces 29 hardy tree and shrub varieties, and provides also technical assistance and conducts applied research in nursery management, tree improvement and agroforestry.
Major emphasis is placed upon field shelterbelt plantings for soil conservation, snow management and crop stabilization. Trees are supplied free of charge, but transportation costs must be paid by the applicant.
Targets
When Applied / From 1901.
Coverage/Eligibility / In the Prairie Provinces: Manitoba; Saskatchewan; and Alberta.
Eligible applicants must be from one of the following groups:
  • Bona fide farmers and producers of primary agricultural products
  • Federal and provincial departments
  • Villages, towns and cities
  • Charitable organizations
  • Indian band councils and individuals for plantings on reserves.

Costs / For budgetary figure for 1995-2001 see table ****.
Participation/Results / Over 5million trees and shrubs are distributed annually to8,000 farmers and ranchers, who are responsible for covering transportation costs and for planting and maintaining their shelterbelts.
How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated
Sources/Further Information / Inventory of Policy Measures (Federal) Addressing Environment Issues in Agriculture in Canada, AAFC.

Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s):Sinks; Reduce Emissions
  • Type(s) of Measure: Payments Based On Fixed Farm Assets; Technical Assistance/Extension; Research/Education; Community-Based Measures

Policy / SHELTERBELT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (SEP)
Agency / The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA)
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / To reduce greenhouse gases through increased shelterbelt plantings on agricultural lands across the Prairies.
Delivery Mechanism / Under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gases, the Government of Canada, though its Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change, will enhance its existing Shelterbelt Program **** in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Peace River Region of British Columbia.
AAFC services will be expanded to improve shelterbelt planting success, while reducing costs to landowners. As part of the program, clients will be supplied with weed-controlling materials and specialized mulch application equipment.
Targets / Under the program, AAFC, through the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), is working in partnership with farmers, livestock producers and rural organizations to:
  • Reduce GHGs by 0.3 megatonnes by 2010
  • Plant 8,000 kms of shelterbelts by 2006 in addition to the Centre's annual planting commitments
  • Fulfill Canada's commitment to the Kyoto Protocol.

When Applied / 2001- 2006
Coverage/Eligibility / The SEP applies to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Peace River Region of British Columbia.
The following groups are eligible under SEP:
  • Bona fide producers of primary agriculture products
  • Federal and provincial departments for conservation plantings, reclamation or research purposes
  • Owners of rural holdings greater than 39 acres (15.8 ha).
The following plantings are eligible under SEP:
  • Field and roadside shelterbelts, and riparian buffer strips must be a minimum 800 metres in length, and composed of tree and/or shrub species that will succeed under local conditions
  • Farmyard shelterbelts must be established around farmyards, livestock facilities or other farm buildings; must be a minimum 800 metres in total length
  • Wildlife tree plantings must encompass a minimum one hectare of land and not be established adjacent to inhabited farmyard sites.

Costs / CAD4 million over five years.
Participation/Results
How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated
Sources/Further Information /
Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s): Water Resources; Reduce Water Pollution
  • Type(s) of Measure: Payments Based On Fixed Farm Assets; Technical Assistance/Extension; Research/Education; Community-Based Measures

Policy / RURAL WATER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (RWDP)
Agency / The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA)
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / To promote and support sustainable development and protection of water resources.
Delivery Mechanism / The program is proposal-driven as clients, such as farmers and ranchers, agricultural and conservation groups, rural communities and other groups develop and submit project proposals. Projects must benefit the rural agricultural economy by maintaining or enhancing income-generating opportunities and/or encouraging the implementation of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices in the use of water resources.
Proposals are screened to ensure they meet the program objectives, and those addressing rural water infrastructure qualify for financial contributions for up to onethird of the cost. The program may also provide financial contributions to cover up to 75 percent of the cost of projects that involve research, the development of information and technologies, and the dissemination of research.
Targets
When Applied / From 1935.
Coverage/Eligibility / The program is administered through the PFRA in the Prairie Provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) and the Peace River region in British Columbia.
Costs / For budgetary figures for 1995-2001 see table ****.
Participation/Results / Through the RWDP, the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) funds about 2,200 water development projects on the prairies each year and provides technical assistance to hundreds more.
How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated
Sources/Further Information /
Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s):Biodiversity; Soil Quality
  • Type(s) of Measure: Payments Based On Land Retirement;

Policy / COMMUNITY PASTURE PROGRAM
Agency / The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA)
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / To preserve wildlife habitat and to maintain a permanent cover that protects marginal soils from erosion. In addition to maintain a permanent cover, PFRA is committed to multiple use of its rangelands.
Delivery Mechanism / The federal government leases marginal agricultural land from provincial governments and converts them into permanent cover areas. The program is designed to help producers strengthen their operations by providing pastures as well as a breeding service. During the summer period, these lands are used primarily for cattle grazing.
The formula used to allot grazing space is designed to benefit small producers by allocating grazing privileges in inverse proportion to land owned, leased or rented by clients.
Targets
When Applied / From 1937.
Coverage/Eligibility / The program is administered through the PFRA in the Prairie Provinces: Manitoba; Saskatchewan; and Alberta.
Costs / Fees are charged for all services provided on the pastures.
Participation/Results / In 2001, PFRA operated 87 community pastures across the Prairies; 24 in Manitoba, 62 in Saskatchewan and one in Alberta. The total acreage of PFRA community pastures is about 2.2million acres (0.89 million hectares). Of this amount, nearly 90% is native vegetation.
Close to 4,000 producers use the pastures each summer, grazing about 220,000 head of livestock and utilizing over 3,000 bulls in the pasture breeding program.
How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated
Sources/Further Information /
Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s):Generic/Broad Spectrum; Water Resources; Soil Quality; Biodiversity; Reduce Water Pollution; Reduce Emissions
  • Type(s) of Measure: Payments Based On Farm Practices; Technical Assistance/Extension; Research/Education

Policy / AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE (AESI)
Agency / Territorial Adaptation Councils.
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / Addressing national environmental priority issues such as water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Delivery Mechanism / The program provide payments for farmers stewardship activities; education and awareness, and technology transfer. The program builds on the regionallysensitive National Soil and Water Conservation Program (NSWCP) **** model (which finished in 1990), and complements the other national environmental initiatives focusing on climate change, wildlife habitat, and livestock issues.
Targets
When Applied / 2000 – 2003.
Coverage/Eligibility / Nation-wide program administered through territorial adaptation councils.
Costs / For budgetary figure for 1995-2001 see table ****.
Participation/Results
How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated
Sources/Further Information / Inventory of Policy Measures (Federal) Addressing Environment Issues in Agriculture in Canada, AAFC.

Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s): Reduce Emissions
  • Type(s) of Measure: Technical Assistance/Extension

Policy / CLIMATE CHANGE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PROGRAM (CCSKTP)
Agency / Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCC)
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / To raise the awareness of producers of the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector.
Delivery Mechanism / The CCSKTP assists farmers in understanding climate change issues and in identifying best management practices that can be employed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Provincial leadership teams enhance the awareness, knowledge and commitment among Canadian agricultural producers.
Activities under this initiative include the coordination and development of grassroots provincial teams to raise awareness among their peers; information tools, provincial workshops on greenhouse gas issues and agricultural best management practices (reduced tillage, crop rotations, improved fertilizer application, manure management) and public awareness activities.
Targets
When Applied / 1999-2003
Coverage/Eligibility / A nation-wide measure.
Costs / For budgetary figure for 1995-2001 see table ****.
Participation/Results / The Soil Conservation Council of Canada reaches more than 8,000 farmers through its network of stakeholder organisations.
How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated
Sources/Further Information / Inventory of Policy Measures (Federal) Addressing Environment Issues in Agriculture in Canada, AAFC.

Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s):Reduce Emissions; Sinks; Renewable Energy
  • Type(s) of Measure: Research; Technical Assistance/Extension; Community-Based Measures

Policy / CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION FUND (CCAF)
Agency / The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA)
Agriculture and Agri-FoodCanada (AAFA)
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA)
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA)
Eastern Canadian Soil and Water Conservation Centre (ECSWCC)
Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC)
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective /
  • Increase awareness of producers and the general public of the greenhouse gas (GHG) issues and solutions (carbon sequestration, emission reductions) relative to the agri-food industry.
  • Build and strengthen the national network of organizations, agencies, and institutions that can contribute to agricultural solutions to GHG issues.
  • Identification and promotion of Best Management Practices

Delivery Mechanism / CCAF finances Agricultural Greenhouse Gas research, the Agricultural Awareness Partnership Project, and technology promotion and analysis of climate change and agriculture.
Funding was put towards developing reports and sector strategies, determining best management practices, supporting communitybased implementation of GHG reduction technologies, and the transfer of technologies to other countries (CCAFI) and to finance public education and outreach, economic analysisand research (CCAFII).
Targets
When Applied / 1998 –2004
Coverage/Eligibility / A nation-wide measure.
Costs / For budgetary figure for 1995-2001 see table ****.
Participation/Results
How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated
Sources/Further Information /
Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s): Generic/Broad Spectrum; Soil Quality; Reduce Water Pollution: Reduce Air Pollution; Reduce Emissions; Sinks
  • Type(s) of Measure: Technical Assistance/Extension; Research/Education

Policy / LIVESTOCK ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE (LEI)
Agency / LEI funds are managed by an industry-led Livestock Initiative National Committee (LINC) which represents the beef, poultry, dairy, pork and other livestock sectors. The Canadian Pork Council acts as the delivery agent.
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / To help the livestock industry address environmental concerns through research, the development of technology and the acceleration of technology assessment and transfer.
Delivery Mechanism / The main environmental target of this initiative is to help the livestock industry to address environmental concerns such waste and manure management, impact on soil and water quality, odour control and air quality, from the perspective of greenhouse gases through promoting technologies and management practices that are technically ready for onfarm application. The initiative also encourages research, development of technology, and acceleration of technology assessment and transfer.
LINC approves proposals that are applicable to more than one livestock sector, and to more than one region.
Targets
When Applied / 2000-2002
Coverage/Eligibility / A nation-wide program.
Costs / For budgetary figure for 1995-2001 see table ****.
Participation/Results / As of September 31, 2001, over 90% of the approved LEI funding of CAD1 million has been allocated to sixteen projects – projects include includes waste and manure management, carcass removal and disposal, and air quality issues.
How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated
Sources/Further Information /
Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s): Generic/Broad Spectrum
  • Type(s) of Measure: Technical Assistance/Extension; Research/Education

Policy / MATCHING INVESTMENT INITIATIVE (MII)
Agency / Agriculture and AgriFood Canada(AAFC)’s Research Branches.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / To increase collaborative research activity between the private sector and Agriculture and the AAFC.
Delivery Mechanism / AAFC matches up to one-for-one industry R&D contributions to collaborative research projects. This is intended to:
  • Stretch industry's research dollar; and
  • Ensure that the Department's research priorities accurately reflect the sector's real needs.
By involving industry research investors directly, the initiative also helps speed up the transfer of new technology to the private sector.
Each research centre negotiates collaborative research projects directly with industry. The program's focus is on industry, but third-party participation and contributions from universities and other governments are welcome, provided industry still matches the federal contribution.
The program focuses on the development, availability and application of:
  • new environmental initiatives and technologies, and conservation and nutrient management plans;
  • applied biotechnology and associated product development; and
  • food processing technology, products, processes and practices that will contribute to expanded processed product sales into domestic and export markets.

Targets
When Applied / 2000-2002
Coverage/Eligibility / A nation-wide measure.
Costs / Government funding for the program is currently pegged at $30.2 million a year. Fully matched by industry, these funds would raise the level of agri-food R&D investment by over $60 million a year.
For budgetary figure for 1995-2001 see table ****.
Participation/Results / For project results see:
How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated
Sources/Further Information /
Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s): Reduce Water Pollution
  • Type(s) of Measure: Environmental Taxes/Charges

Policy / CHARGES ON PESTICIDES
Agency
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / To reduce the use of pesticides.
Delivery Mechanism / Charges on pesticides are applied in British Columbia to limit the risks of nonpoint source of water pollution.
Targets
When Applied
Coverage/Eligibility / British Columbia.
Costs / The charge is CAD1.2 per litre of pesticide. The collected charges finance the residual stewardship program.
For budgetary figure for 1995-2001 see table ****.
Participation/Results
How programme is monitored/evaluated
Sources/Further Information / Inventory of Policy Measures (Federal) Addressing Environment Issues in Agriculture in Canada, AAFC.
Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s): Organic
  • Type(s) of Measure: Labelling Standards/Certification

Policy / NATIONAL STANDARD OF CANADA FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
Agency / Agriculture and AgriFood Canada(AAFC)
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / National program supporting the development of voluntary standards for organic agricultural production.
Delivery Mechanism / In 1989, AAFC began supporting the development of the organic sector by addressing quality certification issues. After nearly 10 years of work and input of considerable resources, from both industry and government, the National Standard for Organic Agriculture was ratified by the Standards Council of Canada and published in June 1999.
Each of the certification bodies in Canada references a technical standard for the production and processing of organic products that must meet or exceed the National Standard. In most cases, inspections to a production or processing standard are conducted under contract by thirdparty inspectors financed by AAFC – see National Organic Accreditation Assistance Program****. The National Standard gives a detailed outline of the principles and practices that must be followed by a producer to ensure that their produce is organic.
Targets
When Applied / Work began in 1989, and the National Standard was ratified in 1990.
Coverage/Eligibility / A nation-wide measure.
Costs / For budgetary figure for 1995-2001 see table ****.
Participation/Results
How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated
Sources/Further Information / Inventory of Policy Measures (Federal) Addressing Environment Issues in Agriculture in Canada, AAFC.
Matrix Classification
  • Country: Canada
  • Environmental Objective(s): Organic
  • Type(s) of Measure: Labelling Standards/Certification

Policy / NATIONAL ORGANIC ACCREDITATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (NOAAP)
Agency / Agriculture and AgriFood Canada(AAFC)
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective / To finance certifying bodies up to 50% of the cost incurred for application to the Standards Council of Canada (SCC)
Delivery Mechanism / Eligible organizations may receive a grant representing 50% of the paid costs related to the SCC application fee, the assessment costs and the initial annual accreditation fee, up to $25,000. NOAAP will not reimburse or match any SCC costs that have been paid by other government organisations. In the event that the assessment is carried by an organisation that has a Partnership Agreement with the SCC, the costs and fees charged by such a partner are also eligible.