Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Producers - FAQs

Q: What evidence is required under the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (OWDCP)?

A: Applicants are required to submit sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the livestock, poultry or bee colony was injured or killed as a result of predation (not by disease, sickness or natural causes). "Sufficient evidence" includes meeting one or more of the following basic standards:

• Evidence that the livestock bled from the attack.
• Signs of tissue damage (bruising) under the lacerations and puncture wounds.
• Signs of a struggle, drag marks on the ground, broken vegetation and/or blood around the site.

Applicants must make the injured animal or carcass available for assessment by Municipal or Territorial Investigator. Applicants are encouraged to take their own photographs and document all applicable details to supplement the information gathered by the Municipal or Territorial Investigator.

Sufficient evidence will be determined on a case-by-case basis and according to program guidelines.

Gathering and documenting all evidence allows the Program Administrator to determine whether an eligible predator species can be identified as the primary cause of death or injury to healthy livestock, poultry or beehives under the parameters of the OWDCP.

Q: Who administers appeals to the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (OWDCP)?

A: Appeals to the OWDCP will continue to be processed by the ministry. They are delegated to the Wildlife Damage Appeals Director in the Food Safety and Traceability Programs Branch.

Q: How long does the Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) need to process my application?

A: OMAFRA has committed to a service standard of 30 business days for processing the completed applications, from the date of receiving the completed application. In most cases, OMAFRA will determine if an application is complete and will process a complete application before the 30 business days.

OMAFRA relies on municipalities and investigators to ensure all necessary application fields and documentation are complete before submitting to the ministry for review.

OMAFRA will issue a decision letter to the producer outlining the assessment results of their application.

Q: Are livestock and poultry premiums available under the program?

A: Yes, premiums are available when sufficient evidence and supporting documentation has been submitted to the ministry. Producers can refer to the OWDCP program guidelines for details on premiums and required documentation.

Q: What happens if the investigator is unable to conduct an investigation within 72 hours of the carcass being discovered?

A: The ministry strongly recommends that producer take their own photos and preserve the site to the best of their abilities, as soon as possible after discovery. Photos taken by the producer should be submitted as additional evidence, and will be considered along with the photos and evidence provided by the investigator.

Q: Where do I obtain my AGR-1 statement?

A: Compensation received under the program is a taxable income. Your municipality will provide you with an AGR-1 statement for the compensation you received under the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.

If you do not receive an AGR-1 statement as per the Canada Revenue Agency timeline requirements, please follow up with your municipality directly.

For producers who reside in Unorganized Territories, OMAFRA will provide you with an AGR-1 statement directly.