MAPAQ — Ministerial initiative for the development of greenhouses and large tunnels

• The applicant must be an agricultural operation registered with the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec.
• The business must have generated a minimum gross agricultural revenue of $25,000 in at least one of the last two years, with at least 50% of this revenue coming from horticultural production activities.
• The proposed project must aim to increase horticultural production in a greenhouse, large tunnel, shelter, or closed environment within Quebec.
• The project must fall into one of the following categories: construction or expansion of greenhouses, large tunnels or shelters; purchase of fixed production equipment related to such facilities; or modernization of existing structures to boost productivity or energy efficiency.
• The applicant and the project must comply with all laws and regulations applicable during the period for which the financial assistance is granted.

Who is eligible?

• Registered agricultural enterprises in Quebec
• Companies engaged in horticultural production (vegetable, fruit, or ornamental crops)

Who is not eligible

• Government ministries, budgetary organizations, non-budgetary organizations, and Crown corporations controlled directly or indirectly by a provincial or federal government, as well as municipal entities.
• Financial cooperatives and banking institutions.
• Applicants listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA), including those working with subcontractors also listed in this register.
• Applicants under bankruptcy protection or subject to proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
• Enterprises involved in projects related to cannabis or hemp production, or those undertaking experimental projects.

Eligible expenses

• Purchase of new greenhouses, large tunnels, or canopy shelters from a recognized supplier.
• Purchase of new fixed production equipment from a recognized supplier.
• Contractor fees for the construction or expansion of new greenhouses, large tunnels, or canopy shelters acquired under the program (must be performed by a recognized supplier or licensed contractor; electrical and gas works require proper certification).
• Contractor fees for installation of eligible new fixed production equipment acquired under the program (must be performed by a recognized supplier or licensed contractor; electrical and gas works require proper certification).
• Contractor fees related to site preparation for the construction or expansion of eligible structures (excavation, drainage, backfill, and grading for the area under and immediately around the structure, necessary for surface water management and equipment circulation during assembly).
• Professional fees for plans and specifications related to eligible project work.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec
• Peripheral regions of Quebec: Abitibi-Témiscamingue–Nord-du-Québec, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Côte-Nord, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Outaouais, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
• Central regions of Quebec: Capitale-Nationale, Centre-du-Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Estrie, Montréal-Laval-Lanaudière, Laurentides, Mauricie, Montérégie
• Agglomeration of Îles-de-la-Madeleine

• Relevance of the project implementation.
• Technical and financial capacity of the applicant.
• Contribution of the project to sustainable development.
• Project implementation schedule.
• Financial arrangement and plan.

• An applicant must maintain all funded assets and equipment for a minimum of five years following project completion or for their useful life, whichever comes first.
• The Ministry reserves the right to audit the project site and request documentation during the project and up to five years after completion.
• The financial assistance is conditional upon budgetary appropriations by the National Assembly and may be limited if funds are exhausted.
• Applicants must declare all public funding received for the project and comply with integrity and legal requirements throughout the grant period.