Governments Invest In Expansion at Maple Leaf Bacon Production Facility
News Release
Supports Made-In-Manitoba Food for Canadians and Export Markets
July 18, 2016 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Canada and Manitoba governments are investing $500,000 in an expansion project that will increase bacon production at Maple Leaf Foods' Winnipeg-based facility by eight million kilograms every year, Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler announced today.
Government funding will be used to invest in new processing and packaging equipment for the bacon production line at the Maple Leaf Foods (MLF) plant in Winnipeg. The bacon production line expansion project is valued at more than $5.9 million and is expected to be completed later this year.
The bacon production expansion is expected to create 34 new permanent, full-time jobs as well as 34 part-time jobs and is part of a larger $35 million expansion of the plant. MLF is Canada's largest value-added protein company, with fresh and prepared meat operations located in Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba as well as Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. The ministers noted this expansion will help increase exports of Canadian pork to highly valuable international markets.
The federal and provincial governments are investing $176 million in cost-shared programming in Manitoba under Growing Forward 2, a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial policy framework to advance the agriculture industry, helping producers and processors become more innovative and competitive in world markets.
Quotes
"The meat sector is a great source of pride and prosperity to many Canadians. Part of the federal government's plan to support the agriculture sector is to be a leader in job creation and innovation. I am pleased to announce this strategic investment that will mean more top-quality Canadian bacon in grocery aisles in Canada and across the world."
- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"Manitoba continues to make strategic investments that will add value to our agricultural industry, creating new jobs and strengthening our economy. The expansion reflects our shared commitment to producing high quality food for the world in a safe and sustainable way. It also reinforces Manitoba's place as an important centre for food processing in Canada."
- Ralph Eichler, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
"Maple Leaf has invested more than $1 billion across Canada to build a highly competitive, sustainable, Canadian-headquartered company. We appreciate the support from the Canadian and Manitoba governments, which played a direct role in helping our company to create and sustain high skilled jobs here in Winnipeg and value-added export opportunities globally."
- Rory McAlpine, Senior Vice President, Government and Industry Relations, Maple Leaf Foods
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