April 13, 2021 – Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Today, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Neil Ellis, and the
Member of Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Francis Drouin, announced details of two new
programs designed to help drive innovation and market development for Canada’s 4,800 chicken,
turkey and egg farmers, including the nearly 1,950 such farmers in Ontario. These programs, totaling
more than $691 million over ten years, respond directly to requests from producer associations and
provide full and fair compensation for market impacts from the Comprehensive and Progressive
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program will provide close to $630 million over ten
years to support poultry and egg farmers through on-farm investments, including up to $220 million for
Ontario. Producers will be entitled to an amount proportional to their quota holdings. Eligible projects
are anything that helps a producer modernize, become more competitive and adapt to changing
consumer preferences. This includes new barn construction or upgrading equipment like feeding,
watering, lighting, ventilation, heating, and comfort systems that will promote energy efficiency and
reduce environmental footprint. The Government of Canada will contribute up to 70% of the project
cost, a ratio increasing to up to 85% for young farmers to help ensure a strong future for Canada’s
farms. The intake of applications for this program will launch later this spring.
Funding will be distributed starting in 2021-22, and will be allocated as follows:
The Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken will provide $36.5 million for the Turkey
Farmers of Canada and $25 million for the Chicken Farmers of Canada over ten years. This funding
will help promotional activities that differentiate Canadian-made products’ reputation for high-quality,
safe and sustainably farmed food that adheres to strict animal welfare standards. Funding will be
distributed to the national industry organizations, who will submit a multi-year strategy to Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada for approval. The intake for applications from these organizations launches
April 13, 2021.
Quotes
“Ontario’s chicken, turkey, and egg farms are vital to the health of our rural communities. Today’s
investment emphasizes our government’s commitment to supporting supply managed sectors, as well
as, the importance we place in producing high-quality food products here in Canada.”
- Neil Ellis, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
“When the Government of Canada signed the CPTPP it made a commitment to our farmers. Today’s
announcement is a testament that we listened to our farmers’ concerns and proposed solutions to
mitigate the impacts of the CPTPP. With this new program, poultry and egg farmers in Ontario will be
more competitive, more resilient to market changes, and better positioned to continue supplying
Canadians with safe and reliable food.”
- Francis Drouin, Member of Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
