EC’s key actions this week:
- Advanced EC’s Guidelines for Competition Operations document through a round of review by PTSOs and select facility operators. The document is designed as a resource to support competition organizers at all levels in the creation of operations plans that meet the regulations of the applicable provincial/territorial health authorities and government agencies managing COVID-19 in their jurisdiction. Competition organizers will need to adhere to the regulations in their province/territory, as well as work with their PTSOs. The timeline for completion of this document, which is now undergoing review by a medical expert, is two weeks.
- Met with the office of The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, to review feedback from equine farms on how federal relief programs are working for them and what issues still needs to be addressed. Outcomes included:
- Setting a short-term plan of engaging with Canada’s Regional Development Agencies to see what immediate changes can be made to support the needs of the equine sector.
- Discussing a long-term plan to be worked on in the coming weeks that addresses the issues of the equine sector accessing Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Business Risk Management programs, farm registration numbers and provincial farm cost-sharing programs like the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, and to address the recommendations found in the EC report, Response to COVID-19 for Canada’s Active Equines, prepared by Wilton Consulting Group.
- We are very pleased with the engagement of AAFC officials as they continue to work other ministries to gain relief options for Canadian equine businesses in need.
- Met with Adam van Koeverden, Member of Parliament (MP) for Milton, ON, and Francis Drouin, MP of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, ON, and member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, to review letters submitted to their offices and the impacts to the equine sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to seek insight on key next steps. Both MPs are engaged in supporting the needs of the sector
- Learned of a special fund being allocated for businesses in need. While this doesn’t represent the amount of funding needed by the Canadian equine sector at large, it is helpful for those who are eligible: Canadian Business Resilience Network Small Business Relief Fund.
- Engaged with Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) and national affiliates to discuss next steps of our advocacy campaign.
Do you have feedback on how current relief programs are or are not working for you equine business? If so, please submit to khouse@equestrian.ca for inclusion in our advocacy efforts.
Additionally, EC would like to remind the community that as provinces/territories reopen, Learn to Ride programs and evaluations will be able to restart if permissible by regional and provincial health authorities. Please contact your Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization for information about program status in your area.
Previous weeks:
EC is making every effort to ensure continuous, thorough and up-to-date communication concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. EC’s complete statement on COVID-19, including regular updates, can be found on our website here. For a list of important COVID-19 resources, visit our COVID-19 Resources page. Want to help save Canadian working horses? Visit our COVID-19 Response page.