13. Subject to section 14, the Minister may make a contribution to an applicant in respect of the costs of engaging the services of a qualified consultant

• (a) to perform a study concerning the feasibility of a proposed project or activity that is likely to be eligible for assistance under section 9, 10, 11 or 12; or

• (b) to perform

  • (i) market research,

  • (ii) a study concerning technology transfer to the applicant, or

  • (iii) a venture capital search

  in connection with a proposed project or activity that is likely to be eligible for assistance under section 9, 10, 11 or 12.

• 14. (1) The Minister’s contribution under this Part shall not exceed

  • (a) 33.3 per cent of the costs or eligible costs, as the case may be, of

    • (i) projects and consulting services for projects carried out in districts located in Tier Group I, and

    • (ii) activities and consulting services for activities to be carried out by eligible persons located in Tier Group I;

  • (b) 40 per cent of the costs or eligible costs, as the case may be, of

    • (i) projects and consulting services for projects carried out in districts located in Tier Group II, and

    • (ii) activities and consulting services for activities to be carried out by eligible persons located in Tier Group II; or

  • (c) 50 per cent of the costs or eligible costs, as the case may be, of

    • (i) projects and consulting services for projects carried out in districts located in Tier Group III or Tier Group IV, and

    • (ii) activities and consulting services for activities to be carried out by eligible persons located in Tier Group III or Tier Group IV.

• (2) The Minister shall not make a contribution to an applicant under section 9, 10, 11 or 12 if

  • (a) the application therefor is received after February 18, 1987; and

  • (b) the total eligible costs of the project of activity are less than $100,000.

15. In this Part, “establishing a new facility” includes a purchase of the assets of an existing facility if

• (a) at the time of the application, commercial production in the facility has ceased or is about to cease;

• (b) the cessation or imminent cessation of commercial production in the facility is dictated by circumstances beyond the control of the vendor of the assets;

• (c) the purchase of the assets is a bona fide arm’s length transaction and has not been contrived for the purpose of an application under the Act or these Regulations; and

• (d) the purchase price of the assets for the purposes of assistance under this Part is not in excess of the fair market value of the assets.