Quebec City, Québec, October 30, 2013 - The Honourable Gerry Ritz, federal Minister of Agriculture, and the Honourable François Gendron, Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec, are pleased to announce that Aliments Whyte's will be receiving $500,000 in financial support for expansion and upgrading of the company's plants in Ste Rose and St Louis sur Richelieu. This financial assistance, which is being provided under the Support Program for Sectoral Development Strategies, is associated with Agriculture and Agri Food Canada's Agricultural Flexibility Fund.
Whyte's specialty is pickles, and with the globalization of markets, the company needs to improve the competitiveness of its Quebec plants. Accordingly, the St Louis sur Richelieu plant will be expanded to increase its storage capacity, while at the Ste-Rose plant, its production lines will be redesigned and new equipment added.
"Under Canada's Economic Action Plan, the investment made in Aliments Whyte's will have a positive impact on these two communities, in addition to supporting local fresh vegetable producers. By providing financial assistance to this Canadian leader, our government is continuing to focus on job creation, growth and prosperity through targeted investments in the agriculture and agri food sector," said Mr. Ritz.
"Aliments Whyte's is a major player in the food processing sector. A number of producers in Quebec provide supplies for the company. The completion of this work will definitely have a significant impact on the region and on our entire biofood sector. This is why we are supporting this project, which is in line with the objectives set out in the food sovereignty policy that we unveiled in the spring," explained Mr. Gendron.
The Support Program for Sectoral Development Strategies was announced by the governments of Canada and Quebec on March 25, 2011. The program provides $16.7 million over four years to help agri food activity sectors adapt and thrive in a competitive and constantly changing business environment.
For a full description of the Support Program for Sectoral Development Strategies (in French only), visit the website of the Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/strategiessectorielles. For more information on the Food Sovereignty Policy (in French only), regularly visit the blog devoted to the policy (www.PolitiqueSA.gouv.qc.ca) or the website of the Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (in French only) (www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/PolitiqueSA). The Department can also be followed on Twitter at twitter.com/mapaquebec.
For more information, media may contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada
Jeff English
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Maxime Couture
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
418-380-2525
Media Relations
Communications Directorate
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
418-380-2100, extension 3512
www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca
