A Federal - Provincial - Territorial
Framework Agreement on Agriculture, Agri-Food and
Agri-Based Products Policy
Between the Governments of:
Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food;
- and -
Newfoundland and Labrador, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs;
Prince Edward Island, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture;
Nova Scotia, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture;
New Brunswick, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Aquaculture;
Quebec, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs, Aboriginal Affairs, Francophones within Canada, the Reform of Democratic Institutions and Access to Information;
Ontario, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs;
Manitoba, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives;
Saskatchewan, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture;
Alberta, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;
British Columbia, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Lands;
Yukon, as represented by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources;
Northwest Territories, as represented by the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment; and
Nunavut, as represented by the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Explanatory Note
(This note is for reference only and does not form part of the agreement)
This agreement replaces the APF Framework Agreement (which covered the 2003 - 2008 time period), as well as those parts of the bilateral "Implementation Agreements" which were essentially multilateral in nature.
Part IA of the agreement sets out the shared policy agenda of the Parties.
Part IB sets out certain framework provisions for the agreement.
Part IIA sets up federal and provincial/territorial funding targets, a bilateral process to identify the programs for which funding will be counted against the targets, and certain requirements surrounding the administration of those programs.
Part IIB lists federal initiatives which have multilateral approval to be counted against the spending targets, and specifies certain funding options for each. Other initiatives can be included in bilateral arrangements, with notice to the other parties to this agreement.
Part IIC lists federal initiatives which contribute to policy objectives set out in Part IA, but which will not be counted against the spending targets.
Part III describes several Business Risk Management programs, makes certain amendments to the AgriStability / AgriInvest (formerly NISA) agreement as well as the AgriInsurance (formerly Production Insurance) agreement, and provides for the consolidation of those agreements.
Annex A is a consolidation of the existing agreement respecting AgriStability and AgriInvest, taking into account the various amendments that have already been made, as well as making certain further amendments.
Annex B is a consolidation of the existing Production Insurance agreement (renaming it AgriInsurance), taking into account the various amendments that have already been made, and making certain further amendments.
Annex C provides a more detailed description of AgriRecovery, mentioned in Part III.
Whereas, the federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for agriculture, representing their respective governments, recognize the important economic and social contribution of the agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector to Canada;
and Whereas the responsibility for agriculture is shared between federal, provincial and territorial governments of Canada and the Parties have had a long history of collaboration in working towards a prosperous Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector;
and Whereas the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF), put in place in 2003, was an important step forward in coordinating an integrated, federal/provincial/territorial approach to the sector in terms of policy and program direction;
and Whereas the agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector is facing ever-changing opportunities and challenges in an increasingly-competitive global market, from animal and plant disease outbreaks to a liberalized trading environment and the emergence of low-cost producers;
and Whereas the Parties want to build upon the success of the APF and better focus their efforts to help the sector become more competitive and succeed, in areas such as regulations and innovation, and to recognize the broader context in which agriculture operates, with linkages to such areas as the environment, and health and wellness;
and Whereas on June 29, 2007 at the Annual Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture, the Parties concluded an agreement in principle that sets out the broad parameters of Growing Forward, a new market-based approach that will replace the APF;
and Whereas the Parties recognized the need to further develop Growing Forward, with the goal of defining common objectives and creating solid mechanisms, ensuring the benefits of a common approach while recognizing the need for flexibility in achieving these objectives, and respecting the jurisdiction and responsibilities of each Party;
and Whereas the Parties recognize that a flexible approach in designing and implementing programs, where appropriate, would strengthen the capacity of the sector to achieve the Growing Forward objectives, while responding to the specific needs of each Province or Territory.
Now Therefore the Parties agree to enter into this federal-provincial-territorial framework agreement entitled Growing Forward.
