Environmental Management Branch - Service Standards

Our Mandate

The Environmental Management Branch provides knowledge and expertise to its stakeholders through coordination of environmental sustainability programs, knowledge translation and transfer, development of collaborative partnerships and the development of multiple access points for technical information.

The mandate of the Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure Program and the Tile Drainage Loan Program is to encourage the development of agricultural land in an environmentally responsible manner by providing grants towards assessments on agricultural land for cost of municipal drain construction, improvement, maintenance, repair and operations.

The Farm Implements Registration Program registers distributors, manufacturers and dealers of farm machinery in Ontario, as required by the Farm Implements Act.

The mandate of the Nutrient Management Program is to administer the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 and associated regulations. The purpose of the Act is:

"… to provide for the management of materials containing nutrients in ways that will enhance protection of the natural environment and provide a sustainable future for agricultural operations and rural development."

This is in keeping with OMAFRA's Strategic Priority of "Thriving agriculture and food", and the ministry's Strategic Direction of "Protect public good and enhance the business climate through appropriate policies and regulations."

Our Service Principles

We uphold the following principles in our service to our clients and all others seeking our service:

• honesty
• transparency
• responsiveness
• timeliness
• clarity

Our Services

1. Drainage - We administer the Tile Drainage Loan Program, which provides loans to landowners who want to install tile drainage systems on their agricultural land. We also administer the Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure Program, which provides grants to municipalities for the construction, repair, improvement and maintenance of drainage systems constructed in accordance with a municipal by-law, passed under the authority of the Drainage Act.
   
2. Farm Implements Registration - We provide the following services to farm machinery companies (distributors, manufacturers and dealers):
   • information packages (online and hard copy) on the Act and the registration program
   • register companies which apply for registration and issue registration certificates
   • issue registration renewal notices at least six weeks before registration renewal is due
   • respond to questions about the act and the registration process
   • publish lists of registered farm machinery companies
     
3. Nutrient Management - We provide the following services:
   • Approvals for Nutrient Management Strategies And Plans for agricultural operations
   • Certificates:
     • Agricultural Operation Strategy Or Plan Development Certificate
     • Agricultural Operation Planning Certificate
     • Broker Certificate
   • Licences:
     • Prescribed Materials Application Business Licence
     • Nutrient Application Technician Licence

Our Service Standards

Subject to operational exigencies, in the usual course of business^*, standards for each of the program services are outlined below:

1. The Drainage program measures service standards in two ways:
   1. For the Tile Loan Program, 75% of the tile loan applications received will be processed within one month of being received by OMAFRA.
   2. For the Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure Program, 75% of all grant applications received in a fiscal year before deadline announced for that grant (i.e. last business day of January for superintendents and maintenance grants, Feb. 15 for construction grants) will be processed by the end of that fiscal year.
      
2. The Farm Implement Registration service standards:
   1. 75% of the application packages will be sent within 10 business days of receiving a request for the same.
   2. 75% of registration certificates will be issued within 45 business days of receipt of complete application.
   3. 75% of the registration renewal packages will be mailed to the client at least six weeks before the registration expiry date.
   4. If the above targets cannot be met, we will advise our clients about when they can expect to receive their application packages, registration certificates or registration renewal packages.
      
3. The Nutrient Management program service standards:
   • Approvals for Nutrient Management Strategies and Plans:
     • 80% of the applications received will be approved within 50 working days
   • Certificates and licences:
     • 90% of the complete applications for certificates and licences from applicants who have successfully completed all requirements will be issued the certificate or license within 10 business days.

^* While the Drainage Program, Farm Implements Registration Program and Nutrient Management Program fully intend to adopt and meet the service standards set out above, they do not guarantee the same.

Achievement of Common Service Standards

These results reflect performance from April 1, 2011 - March 31, 2012.

Feedback/Complaints

Feedback and complaints are handled as outlined below:

1. Drainage: Complaints or feedback may be directed to the Drainage Coordinator. Contact information is provided on all program correspondence. Feedback can also be made through the OMAFRA website.
2. Farm implement registration feedback can be made through the OMAFRA website.
3. Nutrient Management program feedback and complaints should be forwarded to the Director, Nutrient Management. Contact information is provided on all program correspondence and on the OMAFRA website.