Ottawa and Quebec Provide $375,315 in Financial Assistance to Le Petit Abattoir Solidarity Co-op

News release

June 22, 2020 – Granby, Quebec – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec announced funding of up to $375,315 to the Le petit abattoir solidarity co-op of Granby, in Montérégie. Two Government of Quebec departments are contributing to this funding. First, financial assistance of $200,000 is granted through the Programme d'appui à la compétitivité des abattoirs régionaux (PACAR) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, funded by the Canada-Quebec Agreement implementing the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Further assistance of $175,315 will come from the Fonds d'appui au rayonnement des régions (FARR) of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

For Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister André Lamontagne, the contribution announced today demonstrates the importance the government attaches to this project. It is also a clear support for those who practice smaller-scale or community-based agriculture.

These two components of financial assistance will go towards funding a project to adapt four shipping containers into a slaughter unit that meets the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) inspection standards. Depending on how demand evolves, this new slaughter unit will be used on a permanent basis or will constitute an initial phase leading to the construction of a fixed unit.

Quotes

 "A strong and innovative meat processing industry ensures a stable supply of safe meat for Canadians. Projects like this one will improve slaughter capacity in Quebec, benefiting the province's producers and processors who work hard every day to feed us. Our government will continue to work with the Government of Quebec to support the needs of small regional producers to increase slaughter capacity."
-    The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"This significant investment will meet the needs of small regional producers, but also the expectations of consumers looking for local products. It also meets the needs for slaughtering poultry, rabbits and speciality products. Businesses like Le petit abattoir are vital to contribute to the dynamism of Quebec's agriculture. Their presence and actions facilitate the emergence of a local agriculture, capable of increasing the community's food self-sufficiency." 
-    André Lamontagne, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

"With this financial assistance, the project will support the regional priority of making Montérégie a leader in the agricultural sector. I congratulate the members of the cooperative for their bold and innovative approach, which will promote greener agricultural practices for the benefit of the community."
-    Andrée Laforest, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Quick facts

  • Other partners are helping to fund the project. The Regional County Municipality of Haute-Yamaska is contributing $4,685 toward the project. The Chantier d'économie sociale in partnership with the Government of Canada is providing financial assistance to cover human resources costs.

  • The Quebec slaughterhouse sector accounts for 4,600 jobs, or a third of all jobs in the meat sector. Manufacturing shipments in this sector accounted for $2.8 billion in 2019, or nearly half of meat sector shipments and 9% of food and beverage processing manufacturing shipments.

  • The food and beverage processing industry is a cornerstone of the Quebec economy. It includes over 2,400 establishments throughout Quebec

  • In 2019, the food processing industry made deliveries worth more than $31 billion.

  • In 2019, the processing sector provided 72,000 jobs, which puts it in first place among Quebec manufacturing sectors in terms of economic importance

  • Some 70% of the products from Quebec agriculture and fisheries are purchased by Quebec food processors.

  • The Canada–Quebec Agreement on implementation of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership provides for a total of $293 million in funding from the federal government and the Quebec government over five years, from 2018 to 2023. This agreement supports strategic initiatives that will help sectors grow, innovate and prosper.

  • The Canadian Agricultural Partnership replaced Growing Forward 2 on April 1, 2018.

  • Since April 1, 2020, volet 1 – Soutien au rayonnement des régions of the Fonds régions et ruralité has taken over from FARR.

Associated links

Contacts

Jean-Sébastien Comeau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
jean-sebastien.comeau@canada.ca
343-549-2326

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@canada.ca
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Laurence Voyzelle
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food
Tel.: 418-380-2525
Cell.: 418-456-1461

Bénédicte Trottier Lavoie
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Cell.: 514-686-7100
benedicte.trottierlavoie@mamh.gouv.qc.ca

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