Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries


MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FISHERIES

The mission of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries is to deliver programs that maintain a positive business climate for a competitive, market-responsive agri-food and fisheries sector, promote environmental and social sustainability, and safeguard BC's ability to provide safe and high quality agri-food and seafood products for consumers.

MINISTRY SUMMARY
($000)

	Estimates 2003/04¹	Estimates 2004/05
VOTED APPROPRIATION
Vote 10 — Ministry Operations	49,133	44,682


STATUTORY APPROPRIATION
Livestock Protection Special Account	20	10

OPERATING EXPENSE	49,153	44,692


PREPAID CAPITAL ADVANCES ²	—	—


CAPITAL EXPENDITURES³	1,990	1,857


LOANS, INVESTMENTS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS ⁴	(870)	(765)


REVENUE COLLECTED FOR, AND TRANSFERRED TO, OTHER ENTITIES ⁵	—	—


FULLTIME EQUIVALENT (FTE) EMPLOYMENT ⁶	329	326

NOTES
¹		For comparative purposes only, figures shown for 2003/04 expense, FTEs and capital expenditures have been restated to be consistent with the presentation of the 2004/05 Estimates. Schedule A presents a detailed reconciliation.
²		Details of prepaid capital advances are presented in Schedule C.
³		Details of capital expenditures are presented in Schedule D.
⁴		Details of loans, investments and other requirements are presented in Schedule E.
⁵		Details of revenue collected for, and transferred to, other entities are presented in Schedule F.
⁶		Details of FTEs are presented in Schedule G.


CORE BUSINESS SUMMARY
$000

	2003/04		2004/05 ESTIMATES


OPERATING EXPENSE		Net	Gross	External Recoveries	Net

Core Business
Industry Competitiveness		4,604	4,557	(17)	4,540
Fisheries and Aquaculture Management		5,146	4,504	(2)	4,502
Food Safety and Quality		3,909	6,378	(2,524)	3,854
Environmental Sustainability and Resource Development		2,941	6,880	(4,334)	2,546
Risk Management (includes special account).		23,154	20,998	(1,641)	19,357
Executive and Support Services		9,399	9,968	(75)	9,893
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSE		49,153	53,285	(8,593)	44,692




CAPITAL EXPENDITURES		Net	Disbursements	Receipts	Net

Core Business
Industry Competitiveness.		70	22	—	22
Fisheries and Aquaculture Management		494	483	—	483
Food Safety and Quality		300	346	—	346
Environmental Sustainability and Resource Development		667	812	—	812
Risk Management		366	106	—	106
Executive and Support Services		93	88	—	88
TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES		1,990	1,857	—	1,857




LOANS, INVESTMENTS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS		Net	Disbursements	Receipts	Net

Core Business
Industry Competitiveness.		(870)	—	(765)	(765)
Risk Management		—	3,000	(3,000)	—
TOTAL LOANS, INVESTMENTS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS		(870)	3,000	(3,765)	(765)

OPERATING EXPENSE BY CORE BUSINESS
$000

	Estimates 2003/04	Estimates 2004/05

VOTE 10 — MINISTRY OPERATIONS
This vote provides for ministry programs and operations described in the voted appropriations under the following six core businesses:Industry Competitiveness, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, Food Safety and Quality, Environmental Sustainability and Resource Development, Risk Management, and Executive and Support Services.

INDUSTRY COMPETITIVENESS
Voted Appropriation
Industry Competitiveness	4,604	4,540

Voted Appropriation Description: This sub-vote provides for agriculture, food and fisheries industry competitiveness programs and includes work in partnership with agriculture, agri-food and fisheries organizations to provide advice on competitiveness issues affecting the production, marketing and business management of the agriculture, food and fisheries sectors; internal to government advocacy on behalf of the agriculture and fish sectors to improve the business climate in which the sector operates; assembly and dissemination of technical information to producers and other agencies; the provincial component of the 4-H program, agriculture, food and fisheries research and demonstration projects, and related food safety and quality, environmental and risk management initiatives; the administration of Industry Loan Guarantee Programs under the Financial Administration Act; and administration of Agricultural Land Development Assistance loan assets under the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendments Act, 2003. This sub-vote also provides for industry development and renewal initiatives and trusts. Recoveries are received from the federal government and parties external to government for ministry services.

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE MANAGEMENT
Voted Appropriation
Fisheries and Aquaculture Management	5,146	4,502

Voted Appropriation Description: This sub-vote provides for technical review of applications for tenure and for the licensing and enforcement of regulations as required under the Fisheries Act and the Fisheries Inspection Act; administration of relevant sections of the Fisheries Act; licensing and regulation of finfish and shellfish aquaculture; development and diversification of the fisheries and aquaculture (seafood) sectors; and the development of strategies to create jobs and enhance the competitiveness of British Columbia's seafood products. Recoveries are received from the federal government and parties external to government for ministry services.

FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY
Voted Appropriation
Food Safety and Quality	3,909	3,854

Voted Appropriation Description: This sub-vote provides for the animal health centre and plant diagnostic services; monitoring of fish, animal and plant health; licensing, monitoring and inspecting as required by legislation; assembly and dissemination of technological information to producers and other agencies; agriculture, food and fish research and demonstration projects; and related environmental, industry competitiveness and risk management initiatives. Recoveries are received from the federal government and parties external to government for ministry services.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Voted Appropriation
Environmental Sustainability and Resource Development	2,941	2,546

Voted Appropriation Description: This sub-vote provides for services and programs to initiate, plan and coordinate province-wide land and water policies for soil management, waste management and water management; administration of the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act; cooperation with the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management to enhance sustainable resource development opportunities throughout the province; and support to joint planning with local governments to achieve growth of the agriculture and aquaculture sectors. Recoveries are received from the federal government and parties external to government for ministry services.

OPERATING EXPENSE BY CORE BUSINESS (Continued)
$000

	Estimates 2003/04	Estimates 2004/05

RISK MANAGEMENT
Voted Appropriations
National Safety Net Programs	22,140	18,353
BC Farm Industry Review Board	994	994
	23,134	19,347
Statutory Appropriation
Livestock Protection Special Account.	20	10
	23,154	19,357

Voted Appropriations Description: This sub-vote provides for management of provincial and federal-provincial risk management programs and funding of programs and trusts under the Agricultural Policy Framework Agreement as well as the Production Insurance, Income Stabilization and the Whole Farm Insurance Program agreements. This sub-vote also provides for the operation of the British Columbia Farm Industry Review Board which is responsible for supervising the operations of the marketing boards and commissions formed under the Natural Products Marketing (BC) Act, hearing related appeals on regulated marketing issues and for hearing complaints and conducting inquiries related to farm practices under the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act. Recoveries are received from the federal government and parties external to government for ministry services. Recoveries may be received by the British Columbia Farm Industry Review Board from parties external to government if costs are assessed against a party to a regulated marketing appeal.
Statutory Appropriation Description: This statutory appropriation provides for the Livestock Protection Special Account which is governed under the Livestock Protection Act.

EXECUTIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Voted Appropriations
Minister's Office	390	390
Corporate Services	9,009	9,503
	9,399	9,893

Voted Appropriations Description: This sub-vote provides for the minister's office including salaries, benefits, allowances and operating expenses of the minister's staff; the executive direction and administrative services for the operating programs of the ministry, including financial administration and budget coordination, strategic and business planning and reporting, human resources, office management and accommodation, information systems and freedom of information, protection of privacy and records management; and the establishment of strategic directions, policy development, economic and statistical analysis, legislative programs and trade and intergovernmental relations. Recoveries are received from the federal government and parties external to government for ministry services.


VOTE 10 — MINISTRY OPERATIONS	49,133	44,682
STATUTORY — LIVESTOCK PROTECTION SPECIAL ACCOUNT	20	10

MINISTRY GROUP ACCOUNT CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY

GROUP ACCOUNT CLASSIFICATION
Salaries and Benefits	22,444	22,451
Operating Costs	12,956	12,725
Government Transfers	22,022	17,785
Other Expenses	319	324
External Recoveries	(8,588)	(8,593)
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSE	49,153	44,692

SPECIAL ACCOUNT¹
$000

LIVESTOCK PROTECTION
This account was originally created as a fund by the Domestic Animal Protection Act, 1973, was continued under the Livestock Protection Act, 1979, and was changed to a Special Account under the Special Appropriations Act, 1982. The purpose of the account is to provide compensation to an owner for livestock killed or injured by a dog that is not owned or kept by the livestock owner, and to encourage good dog husbandry practices in the province. All fees, licences and cost assessments levied under the Livestock Protection Act are credited to the account as revenue. Expenses include compensation transfers and administration costs. No financing transactions are provided for under this account.

	Estimates 2003/04	Estimates 2004/05
SPENDING AUTHORITY AVAILABLE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR²	109	109
OPERATING TRANSACTIONS
Revenue	20	10
Expense	(20)	(10)
Net Revenue (Expense)	—	—

FINANCING TRANSACTIONS
Loans, Investments and Other Requirements
Receipts	—	—
Disbursements - Capital	—	—
Disbursements - Other	—	—
Net Cash Source (Requirement)	—	—

PROJECTED SPENDING AUTHORITY AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR²	109	109

NOTES
¹		A Special Account is an account in the General Fund where the authorization to spend money from the account is located in an Act other than the Supply Act.
²		The Projected Spending Authority Available represents the cash and temporary investments projected to be available at the end of the fiscal year. The Spending Authority Available at the beginning of the fiscal year 2003/04 is based on the 2002/03 Public Accounts.

LOANS, INVESTMENTS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS BY CORE BUSINESS
$000

	Estimates 2003/04	Estimates 2004/05

INDUSTRY COMPETITIVENESS
AGRICULTURE CREDIT ACT — Receipts represent principal repayments on outstanding loans issued under the Agriculture Credit Act which was terminated on March 31, 1995. The Miscellaneous Statutes Amendments Act, 2003, provides the provisions for the loan repayments.

Receipts	870	765
Disbursements	—	—
Net Cash Source (Requirement)	870	765


RISK MANAGEMENT

PRODUCTION INSURANCE STABILIZATION — Disbursements are provided to cover deficits in the Production Insurance Trust Account that may arise due to payment of indemnity claims in excess of premiums and other revenue in the trust account. These advances are fully recovered from Production Insurance Program premium revenue in subsequent years (receipts).

Receipts	3,000	3,000
Disbursements	3,000	3,000
Net Cash Source (Requirement)	—	—