Honey Bee Health Initiative

• Application Form
• Valid certificate of registration issued under the Bees Act (in the name of the applicant) for the current beekeeping season
• Proof of having completed a pest management course related to honeybees and specific to Ontario within the last two (2) years, or proof of completing a diploma or degree in beekeeping within the last five (5) years from a recognized institution
• Quotes or proposals for all proposed activities to support costs

Who is eligible?

• Ontario beekeepers holding a valid certificate of registration issued under the Ontario Bees Act.
• Registered commercial beekeepers.
• Registered hobbyist beekeepers.

Eligible expenses

• Baseline laboratory testing, varroa mite resistance testing, and field testing for hygienic behaviour or other beneficial traits
• New beekeeping equipment or modifications to existing hive management systems, including winter wraps, indoor overwintering facilities, and queen banking overwintering facilities
• Honey house or freezing facility construction or modifications, including equipment that improves biosecurity, cleaning and disinfecting practices, or wax processing
• New disease-free drawn foundation or frames, pest control devices or monitoring equipment, honey extraction equipment, and disease-free honey bee stock such as queens, nucleus colonies, full size colonies, and honey bee packages
• Eligible in-kind labour and equipment use, with eligible in-kind contributions up to $2,000 per claim

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Bear fencing or demarcation of parts of the operation that are not subject to biosecurity measures or protocols; washers, dryers, furniture or equipment for transition areas that are not directly related to biosecurity.
• Modifications related to increasing production, health and safety requirements, routine maintenance, ongoing consumables, and general clothing or equipment.
• Beekeeping supplies, multipurpose items, establishing a water source, time to complete cleaning/disinfecting activities, and training, materials or skills development projects that fulfill academic requirements.
• Professional services not directly related to the eligible activity; ongoing routine activities such as sampling and testing costs to maintain or monitor health status, diagnostic and treatment costs, and repeat services for the same hives.
• Ontario promotion or branding, lobbying, basic research, capital items funded by government sources at 75 per cent or more, gifts and incentives, travel or hospitality, permits and approvals, land or building purchases or leases, extended warranties, taxes, legal fees, financing charges, loan interest payments, bank fees, materials or products produced by the applicant’s farm business, invoices not issued in the applicant’s name, and non-arm’s-length purchases.

Eligible geographic areas

• Ontario

• Carefully read the Honey Bee Health Initiative Program Guide.
• Create an account on the OSCIA Portal and complete the Enrolment Form.
• Submit the Honey Bee Health Initiative Enrolment and Application Form, along with all required documentation, electronically through the OSCIA Portal during an open intake.

• If an application is approved, OSCIA sends written confirmation by email.
• The approval letter confirms ineligible costs, eligible invoice dates, project completion and claim submission deadlines, required claim information, document links, and claim submission instructions.
• The project must be complete, operational, and fully paid for before a claim is submitted.
• OSCIA issues payments after projects have been completed and required claim documentation is received.
• If a project is approved with costs in two program years, one claim is required to be submitted in each program year.

• Applications are accepted only during open intake periods.
• Funding is allocated on a continuous basis while funds remain available.
• Approved applicants must submit claims with supporting invoices and proof of payment.
• Projects may be inspected before claim payment.