Marginal note:Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Agricultural and Rural Development Act (ARDA).

Marginal note:Definition of "Minister"

2. In this Act, “Minister” means such member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as is designated by the Governor in Council as the Minister for the purposes of this Act.

Marginal note:Joint projects

3. The Minister may, with the approval of the Governor in Council, enter into an agreement with any province providing for the undertaking jointly with the government of the province, or any agency of such a government, of

• (a) projects for the more efficient use and economic development of rural lands specified in the agreement;

• (b) projects for

  • (i) the development and conservation of water supplies for agricultural or other rural purposes, and

  • (ii) soil improvement and the conservation of rural lands in the province or in any area of the province specified in the agreement; or

• (c) projects for the development of income and employment opportunities in rural areas specified in the agreement and the improvement of standards of living in those areas.

Marginal note:Provincial projects

4. The Minister may, with the approval of the Governor in Council, enter into an agreement with any province providing for the payment to the province of contributions in respect of the cost of any projects referred to in section 3 undertaken by the government of the province or any agency of that government.

Marginal note:Provisions to be included

5. Every agreement entered into pursuant to this Act shall specify

• (a) the authority that is to be responsible for the undertaking, operation and maintenance of any project or any part thereof to which the agreement relates;

• (b) the respective proportions of the cost of any project to which the agreement relates that are to be paid by the Minister and the province, or the contribution in respect of any such project that is to be paid by the Minister, and the times at which the amounts to be paid by the Minister or the province are to be paid;

• (c) the respective proportions of the revenues from any project to which the agreement relates that are to be paid to the Minister and the province;

• (d) the terms and conditions respecting the undertaking, operation and maintenance of any project to which the agreement relates; and

• (e) the charges, if any, that are to be charged to persons to whom any of the benefits of the project to which the agreement relates are made available.