Speaking Points
Barry Devolin,
Member of Parliament for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock
Lindsay, Ontario
May 29, 2015
Check Against Delivery
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, friends and guests.
As the Member of Parliament for this region, I am proud to see an impressive, local business being supported and celebrated.
This region is rich in heritage and culture and we are fortunate to be surrounded by some incredible lakes, rivers and farmland. This area of Ontario is a great place for skilled individuals, and resourceful businesses and producers, to develop and market some remarkable, homegrown products.
Mariposa Dairy Ltd. is one such proactive company that has, over the years, made great strides in advancing and marketing its line of specialty cheeses.
Our Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Harper, is dedicated to supporting businesses like Mariposa Dairy.
Since 2006, we have worked to create a low-tax environment for business investment, expand access to foreign markets, support innovation and world-class research, train a highly skilled workforce, and create business opportunities through government procurement.
Economic Action Plan 2015 will continue to implement strategies for prudent fiscal management, including a low-tax plan for jobs, growth and security.
For example, our Government will cut taxes even further for small business owners, with a plan to reduce the small business tax rate to nine percent by 2019. This will be the largest tax cut for small businesses in more than 25 years.
And given the importance of the manufacturing sector here in southern Ontario, I'm pleased that the Budget introduced significant support for this sector.
Our Government is proposing extending the accelerated capital cost allowance for machinery and equipment used in manufacturing and processing.
Providing the new incentive over a 10-year period gives businesses greater planning certainty for larger projects that take time to fully realize, including those with multiple phases.
When Canadian companies invest in state-of-the-art equipment and structures, they increase their productivity and competitiveness.
Which brings me to where we are standing today.
Mariposa Dairy was formed in 1989, when Bruce and Sharon Vandenberg built a small cheese plant on Lenberg Farms, and used a small herd of goats to yield their products. Lenberg Farms is one of the key suppliers of goat and sheep milk for Mariposa Dairy Ltd.
As you can see, today Mariposa Dairy Ltd. operates from a much larger facility and it is producing quality goat and sheep cheese for a steadily expanding niche market.
The company has won an impressive number of awards for its cheese products and for its leadership and innovation. This past year, its products won top awards at the Royal Winter Fair and the British Empire Cheese Competition.
Mariposa Dairy now needs to keep this momentum going and take the necessary steps to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and meet the demands of its growing customer base.
Our Government recognizes the value of supporting innovative companies, like Mariposa Dairy, and we believe in providing the right tools to make their business grow and prosper in a competitive, global market.
With this in mind, I'm pleased to be here to deliver some great news on behalf of our Government.
Today, our Government, through FedDev Ontario, is providing Mariposa Dairy with up to $1 million dollars.
With this funding, Mariposa Dairy Ltd. will be able to make equipment purchases and important leasehold improvements to its new 40,000-square foot facility.
This project will allow Mariposa Dairy Ltd. to function at a greater capacity to meet consumer demands for its products.
This means great things for our region, as it will also help the local farming industry that produces ingredients used by Mariposa Dairy Ltd. This investment will allow the company to reach new markets and it will also help keep the shelves of stores here in Canada stocked with Canadian-made products.
Our Government believes that it is support like this that can help our businesses grow and remain sustainable over the long-term.
Congratulations to Mariposa Dairy Ltd. I look forward to seeing all the great advancements your company will make in the years to come.
