McGuinty Government Supports Agri-Food Sector in Eastern Ontario

Feasibility Study And Business Plan For
A Federally Inspected Abattoir To Be Completed

St-Isidore -- The McGuinty government is helping L'Union des cultivateurs francoontariens (UCFO) and the United Counties of Prescott and Russell develop a feasibility study and business plan for a federally inspected abattoir in Eastern Ontario. Jean-Marc Lalonde, MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, and Jim Brownell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh, made the announcement today on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"The McGuinty government's support for this project shows that we are on the side of families in rural Ontario," said Lalonde. "This project could lead to more jobs and new opportunities for the community."

"We were keen to support this project to help the Eastern Ontario agri-food business sector," said Brownell. "We're pleased to see that the UCFO is pro-actively developing partnerships to undertake new research for agri-food opportunities in Eastern Ontario."

The government will contribute $125,000 toward the feasibility study and business plan.

"Thanks to the support of the provincial government, this project will now be able to proceed with conducting a feasibility study and a business plan for a federally inspected abattoir," said Pierre Bercier, président de l'Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens. "Eastern Ontario needs a federal abattoir as there is a shortage of slaughtering capacity in the Ontario industry, especially to cull cows."

Other government initiatives that support agriculture and strong rural communities in Ontario include:

• Investing an additional $185 million in rural Ontario with $110 million going directly to farmers and $75 million for rural infrastructure

• Investing over $6 million in agricultural drainage infrastructure

• Investing over $26 million in rural communities through the Rural Economic Development program.

Today's investment was made through the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program, which invests in projects that support sustainable rural economies and community partnerships -- a key part of the government's plan for rural Ontario.

Through the RED program, the Ontario government and its rural partners are building stronger communities that work better for the people who live in them. For more information about RED or Ontario's rural plan, visit www.omafra.gov.on.ca.