Quebec City, Quebec, January 29, 2014. – Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz and Quebec Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food François Gendron are announcing the implementation of a program to support animal welfare at slaughter. Funded through the bilateral agreement for implementation of Growing Forward 2, this program will help businesses comply with the requirements relating to the restraining of animals during slaughter, in order to eliminate the suffering of these animals while taking into consideration the concerns of Canadians regarding animal welfare. The program will be allocated a budget of $450,000 spread over three years, from 2013 to 2016.
"Canada has a strong record supporting the use of best practices in the slaughter industry. We are pleased to partner with Quebec to further promote the development of practices that take animal welfare into account," stated Gerry Ritz.
"The implementation of this new program is great news and demonstrates that the Government of Quebec provides ongoing oversight of animal welfare. As I have already mentioned, we are working hard to ensure that animals are treated respectfully and benefit from the best conditions possible, including at slaughter. Today, we are providing concrete support to slaughterhouses in their investment project," stated François Gendron.
Facilities that have category A provincial licences, under permanent inspection, play an important role in the development and implementation of local distribution channels, such as the bovine, porcine, ovine et caprine channels. The implementation of this program will increase the viability of these businesses over the long term.
In the spring of 2013, the federal, provincial and territorial governments signed the Growing Forward 2 policy framework. At the same time, the governments of Canada and Quebec signed a bilateral agreement that included $293 million in funding over five years. The aim of this important action was to support the creation of strategic initiatives for innovation, competitiveness and market development in both the agricultural and food processing sectors.
Slaughterhouses that have a category A provincial licence are invited to take advantage of the program in relation to their investment project for the acquisition and installation of restraining equipment for animals during slaughter. These facilities may consult the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) (in French only) website regarding submitting an application: www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/pabaa.
For further information on the Government of Quebec's food sovereignty policy, please consult the following blog regularly: www.PolitiqueSA.gouv.qc.ca; or visit the MAPAQ (in French only) website at www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/PolitiqueSA. MAPAQ can also be followed on Twitter at twitter.com/mapaquebec.
For more information, please 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
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Media Relations
Communications Directorate
Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food
418-380-2100, ext. 3512
www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca
Maxime Couture
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
418-380-2525
