Canada’s Economic Action Plan is delivering real results for Ontario beef farmers and food processors.
MP Larry Miller recently announced, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, an investment of more than $70,000 to West Grey Premium Beef to purchase new meat processing equipment that increases production capacity allowing the firm to respond to incremental domestic and export market opportunities.
“Canada’s Economic Action Plan is helping to strengthen the agriculture industry, driving the Canadian economy and creating new jobs in the agri-food industry in the riding of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and all of Ontario,” said Miller. “By investing in West Grey Premium Beef, our Government is helping local farmers and food processors increase productivity and sales, and continue to provide safe, high-quality beef to Canadians.”
The funding will be used to purchase and install new processing equipment, allowing the company to become a federally inspected facility, which in turn will create incremental market opportunities beyond the Ontario border.
Part owner of West Grey Premium Beef, Doug Calhoun says “This funding will assist us with the transition from Provincial to Federal legislation opening up broader marketing opportunities.”
West Grey Premium Beef purchases 100% Ontario beef, most of which comes from farms located within fifty miles of its plant. Their products support local farmers and respond to the increasing demand for local, fresh and premium quality beef products.
Funded through the AgriFlexibility Fund, the AgriProcessing Initiative is a five-year, up to $50 million initiative designed to enhance the competitiveness of the agri-processing sector in Canada. It provides support to existing companies for projects that involve the adoption of innovative and new-to-company manufacturing technologies and processes that are essential to sustaining and improving the sector’s position in today’s global marketplace. For more information, visit www.agr.gc.ca/api.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan continues to help farmers with its focus on strengthening the economy and creating jobs. Investments in viable market opportunities will help build an even stronger agriculture industry and Canadian economy. For more information, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.