2016 Canada Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative. Application Package

Transcription

1 2016 Canada Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative Application Package

2 2016 Canada - Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative (CABTAI) December 2016 Dear Producer, The 2016 Canada - Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative (CABTAI) has been designed to aid Alberta producers dealing with the impact of the extraordinary costs associated with quarantines placed on herds as ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The quarantines were ordered following the discovery of a cow with Bovine Tuberculosis that originated from an Alberta farm in September Important points to note when completing the application form are: It is your responsibility to determine if you may be eligible for this program. Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully. Ensure that all eligible animals for payment appear on one application only. For example, if you and your partner own 500 eligible animals, the total 500 eligible animals can be claimed, by mutual agreement, by you or by your partner or split between the partners (e.g. each claim 250 animals). Do not claim the 500 animals on two applications. This rule would also apply to eligible facility/building costs. Program Application: Producers can send in their initial application 30 days after the quarantine starts; Additional applications can be submitted as expenses are incurred: and Final expenses must be claimed within 60 days after CFIA lifts the imposed quarantine. Completed forms can be dropped off at any one of the local AFSC offices or submitted in the following manner: info@afsc.ca (scan and ) Subject line: AgriRecovery CABTAI Mail: 2016 CABTAI c/o AFSC Avenue Lacombe, Alberta T4L 1B1 Fax: This program was created in partnership between Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). In Alberta, the Program is administered by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC). If you have any questions or concerns regarding the 2016 Canada - Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative, please call AFSC toll free at AFSC (2372). Sincerely, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation

3 2016 Canada - Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative (CABTAI) Terms and Conditions 1. PURPOSE The purpose of the financial assistance is to help livestock producers in Alberta with the extraordinary costs associated with quarantines placed on their herds as ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) following the discovery of a cow with Bovine Tuberculosis that originated from an Alberta farm in September DEFINITIONS AAFC means Agriculture and AgriFood Canada AF means the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry AFSC means Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, the Program Administrator. Application Form means the form that an Eligible Participant, as described in section 4 (Application Process), must complete to be considered for eligibility to the Program. Alberta s Representative means the officer or employee of the Province authorized by the Alberta Minister who is responsible for submitting the records and information required by Canada under this Agreement and any person authorized by Alberta s Representative to perform any of his or her functions under this Agreement. CFIA means the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Eligible Animals means those cows and calves that were scheduled to go to market but were placed under quarantine by CFIA as a result of the detection of Bovine Tuberculosis and as such caused producers to incur additional costs. Eligible Participant means an agricultural producer whose herd was placed under quarantine by CFIA as a result of the 2016 Bovine Tuberculosis detection in Alberta or an agricultural producer who owns an Eligible Premises. Eligible Premises means the Alberta operations that, by order of CFIA as a result of the 2016 Bovine Tuberculosis detection in Alberta, must be cleaned and disinfected before livestock can be placed on the premises. Eligible Terminal Feedlot means a feedlot that has met the specific requirements as defined by CFIA to house animals that are under the CFIA quarantine as a result of the detection of Bovine Tuberculosis. Minister means the Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or his authorized representatives. Program means the 2016 Canada - Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative as set out in these Terms and Conditions; and Terms and Conditions mean these 2016 Canada - Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative (CABTAI) Terms and Conditions.

4 3. ELIGIBILITY 3.1 An Eligible Participant is an agricultural producer who has applied for to the program and: Is a taxable entity (e.g. individual, corporation or trust), limited partnership, commune, cooperative, or First Nation Band; Owned and/or operated the Eligible Premises as of the date of CFIA quarantine notification; Owned Eligible Animals as at the date of the CFIA quarantine notification; Eligible Animals that are culls cannot exceed 10% of the producers breeding stock Is an Eligible Terminal Feedlot that has met the CFIA requirements to accept and has accepted Eligible Animals; and Is not a research station, or government funded agency or institution. 4. APPLICATION PROCESS 4.1 Eligible Participants are required to sign and submit a completed Application Form and where necessary submit copies of invoices as supporting documents to the claim as prescribed by the AFSC Eligible Participants may resubmit an application including any applicable receipts every thirty days or at the end of the quarantine. This will allow AFSC to update on a cumulative basis any additional program benefits and make payments as necessary. 4.2 Eligible Participants must provide a copy of the CFIA Quarantine Order. This can be provided by the Eligible Participant or CFIA, with participant consent. Once available Eligible Participants must also provide AFSC with CFIA confirmation that the quarantine has been lifted from their operation. 4.3 It is the responsibility of the Eligible Participant to ensure that no other application to the Program has been made in respect to their Eligible Animals and/or their Eligible Premises listed within their application. 4.4 The deadline for submitting completed application forms to AFSC with supporting documents is no later than 60 days after the CFIA quarantine is lifted. The Application Forms and supporting documents may be delivered in person, ed, faxed or mailed to: info@afsc.ca Subject line: AgriRecovery CABTAI Mail: 2016 CABTAI c/o AFSC Avenue Lacombe, Alberta T4L 1B1 Fax:

5 4.5 In the case where supporting documents for cleaning and disinfection of Eligible Premises are received 60 days or more after the CFIA quarantine is lifted with respect to an Eligible Premises, a payment may be made for costs subject to approval by Canada and Alberta. 4.6 AFSC may, upon its discretion, reject any application that is inaccurate or incomplete. 5. SIGNATURES 5.1 Eligible Participants must sign a declaration confirming that they have met the conditions of the Program. 5.2 Designates are not permitted to sign the Application Form or other Program documentation, unless they are a duly authorized power of attorney or an executor/ executrix; proof of which is to be provided with the signed Application Form. 5.3 In the case of corporations, trusts, limited partnerships, cooperatives, communes, and First Nations Bands, the Application Form and other Program documentation must be signed by a properly authorized person. If the person who signs is not properly authorized to do so, they will be deemed to have submitted the application in their personal capacity and will be responsible for all amounts owed under this Program. Proof of authorization may be required by AFSC. 6. PAYMENTS Payments will only be made for activities/expenses incurred during the Eligible Participants quarantine period. Eligible Participant Subject to these Program Terms and Conditions Section 3 (Eligibility) and 11(Debts to Governments) of this Schedule, the Program will pay an Eligible Participant based on the following: Eligible Premises 6.1 Up to 90% of the additional cleaning and disinfection costs incurred to meet the CFIA guidelines in order to have the quarantine lifted. These costs must be itemized and for verification purposes receipts must be provided; and/or 6.2 Up to 90% of the repair or replacement costs of equipment or production facilities damaged as a direct result of cleaning and disinfection activities that were required to meet CFIA guidelines in order to have a quarantine lifted. These costs must be itemized and for verification purposes receipts must be provided. Eligible Animals 6.3 Payment to Eligible Participants as a result of the CFIA imposed quarantine of Eligible Animals for feed, yardage and interest carrying costs will be calculated based on the start date of the CFIA quarantine until the CFIA quarantine is lifted or an Eligible Participant s Eligible Animals have been destroyed as followed: Daily calculation for feed and yardage payment = (Total number of Eligible Animals X number of days under quarantine (as verified by the AFSC) X Animal per day value X ninety percent (90%)) Animal per day values: $3.49 X 90% per cull cow; $2.28 X 90% per calf;

6 6.3.2 Daily calculation for interest carrying costs= Total number of Eligible Animals X number of quarantine days X (Bank Prime Lending rate of 2.7% + 2% (as of November 23, 2016) X average sale price of an Eligible Animal (established by AFSC) / 365 days) Interest per day value: $0.15 X 90% per cow $0.14 X 90% per calf Eligible Participants can provide loan statements and may be eligible for additional interest carry cost directly related to the carrying of cull animals and calves. The payment will be calculated at 90% of the difference between the daily calculation for interest carrying costs set out above and the actual interest costs verified by the loan statements provided. 6.4 Transportation payments to Eligible Participants as a result of the CFIA imposed quarantine of Eligible Animals will be calculated as follows: Up to 70% of water transportation costs based on receipts; and Up to 90% of the livestock transportation costs to an Eligible Terminal Feedlot cost based on receipts. 6.5 Infrastructure payments to Eligible Participants as a result of the CFIA imposed quarantine of Eligible Animals will be calculated as follows: Up to 90% of receipts for temporary housing requirements for quarantine animals, including temporary water, feed bunks, corrals, etc. Payments may be limited based on a reasonability test developed by AFSC. 6.6 Water supply infrastructure will be supported at 1/3 of receipts to a maximum of $7,000. Eligible Terminal Feedlot Payments will only be made for activities/expenses incurred by the Eligible Terminal Feedlot that are directly related to CFIA s requirements. An outline of CFIA requirements and receipts related to the any required alterations and cleaning and disinfection are required. Eligible Terminal Feedlots are eligible for: 6.7 Up to 90% of the costs that are directly related to feedlot alterations to make the feedlot meet the requirements as outlined by CFIA. 6.8 Up to 90% of the additional cleaning and disinfection costs incurred to meet the CFIA guidelines in order to have the quarantine lifted. These costs must be itemized and for verification purposes receipts must be provided; and/or Up to 90% of the repair of equipment or production facilities damaged as a direct result of cleaning and disinfection activities that were required to meet CFIA guidelines in order to have a quarantine lifted. These costs must be itemized and for verification purposes receipts must be provided.

7 6.9 Tax Information Notices required under the Income Tax Act (Canada) will be issued in the Name of the Eligible Participant For the purposes of the AgriStability program, any payments to Eligible Participants that are considered to be eligible AgriStability expenses payments under this Program will be considered allowable income in the program year and will be recorded as income in the year of the Program announcement (2016). Payment received under the Program will not be considered allowable income for the calculation of reference margins under the AgriStability Program Payments will not be considered allowable revenue for the purposes of the AgriInvest Program Payments cannot be assigned or deferred to a subsequent tax year. 7. TERMINATION OF THE PROGRAM The Program may be terminated by the Federal and Provincial governments at any time, without prior notice. 8. PRE AND POST PAYMENT VERIFICATION 8.1 The Eligible Participant agrees to supply AFSC, AF, and/or Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (AAFC) on request, with access to all land and all documentation required to administer the Program and agrees that AFSC, AF and/or AAFC may conduct field verifications at any time to verify eligibility for payment under the Program. 8.2 The Eligible Participant expressly authorizes AFSC, AF, and/or AAFC to obtain information from any government department, agency or third party for the purposes of verifying the basis of the Program payments or any other information provided by the Eligible Participant under this Program. 8.3 The Eligible Participant consents to AFSC releasing any information provided or obtained as outlined in section 8.2 above to any government department, agency, or third party for the purposes of verifying the application or determining the Eligible Participant s eligibility for the Program or other related programs. AFSC may verify any information submitted to the Program through on farm audits. 8.4 The Eligible Participant agrees to disclose payments or in-kind contributions from industry, federal, provincial or municipal governments which were received in respect of the activities and objectives of the Program. This requirement excludes any payments received under the AgriStability program. 8.5 The Eligible Participant shall indemnify and hold harmless the Province of Alberta and its appointed representatives against any loss, damage or award arising from any demand, claim or proceeding which may arise as a result, whether directly or indirectly, during the process to verify any claims made under the program.

8 9. OVERPAYMENTS 9.1 If after making a payment under the Program, AFSC determines that: The applicant is not an Eligible Participant; The animals and other expenses claimed were not Eligible; There is otherwise an overpayment by the Program; An Eligible Participant has not complied with the Terms and Conditions of the Program; and/or False or misleading information was provided in the Application Form; then the Minister may require the participant to repay some or all of the overpayment. Until it is repaid, the amount will be considered to be a debt owing by the participant applicant to Canada, Alberta, and AFSC. 9.2 The applicant agrees to repay any overpayments to AFSC within thirty (30) days of notice being provided to them. The participant s failure to refund such payment by the prescribed deadline may result in the debt being set off against money owed by AFSC to the participant. Interest charges based on an annual interest rate of CIBC prime plus 2%, adjusted quarterly, which will be added to any debt not repaid by the prescribed deadline. 10. FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION Participants, who provide false or misleading information may forego all rights to Program payments, may be liable to repay all Program payments they have received, and may be subject to prosecution, at the discretion of AFSC. 11. DEBTS TO GOVERNMENT OR THIRD PARTIES Where by law or in the cases where legal proceeding have commenced in the collection of debts owed to the Province of Alberta and/or AFSC, Program payments will be deducted and applied to any debts owed by the Eligible Participant. 12. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES The participant represents and warrants that the person signing the Program application and other Program documents is duly authorized to bind the participant to these Terms and Conditions. 13. APPEALS 13.1 AFSC is authorized to receive, assess, verify and make payments relating to applications. A person who disputes a decision of AFSC has twenty-one (21) calendar days from the date of payment or of notice of the decision in which to object Objections must be delivered in writing to: 2016 Canada - Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative (CABTAI) Appeal Committee c/o AFSC, Avenue, Lacombe, Alberta, T4L 1B1or ed to: info@afsc.ca, Subject line: AgriRecovery CABTAI.

9 14. CHANGES TO PROGRAM OR PROGRAM CONDITIONS In the event that the Program is changed, any application received after the Program is revised, will be administered according to the conditions applicable as of the date that the application was received. 15. STACKING OF ASSISTANCE The Eligible Participant agrees to disclose to AFSC all other sources of funding in respect of the activities and objectives under this Initiative over and above any funding received from AgriStability, AgriInsurance, or AgriInvest, but including financial contributions from federal, provincial, or municipal governments. 16. REGISTRATION OF LOBBYISTS A person lobbying, as defined in the federal Lobbying Act, on behalf of a participant must be registered pursuant to this Act. For greater clarity, this Act excludes from registration, among others, members of the Provincial Legislature or their staffs and employees of the provincial government.

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11 2016 Canada - Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative (CABTAI) APPLICATION FORM PARTICIPANT INFORMATION (Please Print Clearly) Name (must be taxable entity) AFSC ID Address City Province Postal Code Telephone (Daytime) ( ) Cell Phone ( ) Fax ( ) Social Insurance Number (for individuals only) Business Number (for all other taxable entities) Main Farmstead Pt Sec Twp Rge W of IMPORTANT CFIA QUARANTINE DATES Date Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) placed a quarantine order: / / d d m m y y y y IMPORTANT Please notify AFSC once quarantine date is lifted. Date CFIA order was removed: / / d d m m y y y y Section A: Provide number of eligible animals as of the date the animals where placed under quarantine by CFIA. This information only needs to be supplied once. AFSC will process the per diem claim on a regular basis. Per Diem payments end once CFIA lifts the quarantine from the animals. To avoid over payments, it is important to notify AFSC as soon as the quarantine is ended. Section B: List eligible extraordinary costs such as transportation, water hauling, and other infrastructure expenses for temporary structures. Multiple expense claims may be submitted as new expenses occur. Coverage rates vary as per expense type. Refer to Terms and Conditions for description of eligible expenses and coverage rates. Interest costs claimed above what is offered based on the Program Terms and Conditions must have a loan statement for verification. Section C: Eligible Terminal Feedlots and Eligible Participants that have been classified as an Eligible Premise by CFIA are to provide cleaning requirements by CFIA and list the eligible extraordinary costs for cleaning and disinfection associated with meeting biosecurity requirements. Receipts are required. Refer to CABTAI Terms and Conditions for eligible expenses and rates of coverage.

12 Section A: Eligible Producers Per Diem Eligible Costs Animal Type Number of Animals as of Quarantine Date CFIA Quarantine Order Date Daily Interest Coverage Feed and Yardage Rates Cull Cow 0.15 X 90% $3.49 x 90% Calves 0.14 X 90% $2.28 x 90% Breeding Cows Bulls Quarantine End or Date Animals were Destroyed Section B Other Eligible Costs Receipts Required (Report expense dollars before the addition of GST.) NOTE: Coverage rates vary as per expense type. Refer to Terms and Conditions for description of eligible expenses and coverage rates. Description of Activity e.g. Water Transportation costs, Livestock transportation, infrastructure costs (temporary feeding and water structures), Water wells Service provided by (name on receipt): Expense $ (Net GST) Date Service Provided Section C: Eligible Premises and Terminal Feedlot Eligible Costs Associated with Biosecurity Requirements Description of Activity: An outline of CFIA requirements is required as agreed to by the Eligible Premises and CFIA. Service provided by (name on receipt): Expense $ Date Service Provided

13 2016 Canada Alberta Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative Application Deadlines: Producers can send in their initial application 30 days after the quarantine starts; Additional applications can be submitted as expenses are incurred: and Final expenses must be claimed within 60 days after CFIA lifts the imposed quarantine PARTICIPANT DECLARATION I/We, the Participant(s): Certify that all information submitted on this application is accurate, true and correct; Certify that I/we are the only taxable entities making application for the land listed within this application; Understand that it is my/our responsibility to ensure that I/we understand, accept, and are in compliance with the Terms and Conditions of this Initiative; Certify that I/we will supply, on request, to the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), or their representative, any documentation they consider necessary to administer this Initiative; Consent to third parties, including Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), disclosing upon request to AFSC, or their representative, any information pertaining to me/us or my/our financial affairs which AFSC considers necessary for the purpose of administering the Initiative; Consent to on-site audits by AFSC, or their representative, at any time to verify eligibility and to evaluate and enforce the provisions of this Initiative; Agree that AFSC may review, as necessary information held by the respective governments related to other programs in which I/we am/are enrolled to verify the information provided on this application form; Agree to return all or part of the funds received under this Initiative to AFSC should an audit subsequently determine the funds have been received in contravention of the Initiative eligibility requirements; these obligations; and/or laws of the province of Alberta and federal laws of Canada; Understand that the Social Insurance Number or Business Number or GST Registration Number is collected and disclosed under the authority of the Income Tax Act (Canada) for the purposes of reporting income; and Certify that, if I am an individual subject to the provisions of any values and ethics codes applicable within provincial or territorial governments or specific organizations and I am deriving a benefit from this Initiative, that I am in compliance with such legislation and codes. Signature - Participant or Authorized Signatory Date Signature Day / Month / Year The personal information on this form is collected under the authority of the Agriculture Financial Services Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) and will be used to evaluate your eligibility for the program to which this form relates, for the administration of the program and for the administration of any other AFSC program or benefit in which you participate. Your information is subject to the provisions of the FOIP Act. If you have any questions about this form and the collection and use of information, please contact the AFSC Client Contact Centre Avenue, Lacombe AB, T4L 1B1, Completed forms can be returned to AFSC by mail, , and fax or in person at your local Branch Office Mail: 2016 CABTAI c/o AFSC, Avenue, Lacombe, Alberta T4L 1B1 Fax: info@afsc.ca Questions? Contact AFSC toll free at AFSC (2372)