The Government of Canada announced financing of close to $100 million for the new Merit Functional Foods plant in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The federal financing for Merit Functional Foods includes: $10 million in a repayable contribution from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriInnovate Program; $25 million in debt financing from Farm Credit Canada; $55 million in debt … Read more
The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $10 million in emergency assistance for beef and hog farmers. The funding will help cover the increased costs of feeding market ready cattle and hogs due to COVID-19 related processing delays, while redirecting surplus pork products to help those in need. This program will help … Read more
Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (Compton-Stanstead, Que.) launched the $50 million Surplus Food Rescue Program. The program aims to move surplus food commodities such as potatoes and other possible horticulture, fish and seafood, and meat through the food system as efficiently as possible to help vulnerable Canadians. COVID-19 caused significant disruptions to areas of Canada’s food system, as … Read more
Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (Compton-Stanstead, Que.) launched the $77.5 million Emergency Processing Fund as part of the Government of Canada’s action to support Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of COVID-19. The program will help companies implement changes required by COVID-19 health and safety standards, and assist companies in the modernization of their facilities. The full … Read more
Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (Compton-Stanstead, Que.) announced the launch of the second call for proposals under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund. This second call for proposals, valued at $43.4 million, will begin accepting applications as of June 9. The fund aims to strengthen food support organizations and to help improve access to safe and nutritious food … Read more
In response to the recent challenges faced by Alberta’s beekeepers, Agriculture and Forestry is introducing a new Canadian Agricultural Partnership program. The program will include up to $1 million to help beekeepers offset the costs of increased colony replacements due to COVID-19. The program, available this summer, will be retroactive to cover issues faced in … Read more
On May 28, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (Compton-Stanstead, Que.) spoke with Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Victor Villalobos and US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue as part of their continued collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discussed the importance of sustaining uninterrupted food and agriculture trade to ensure food security and safeguard the citizens in our … Read more
Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (Compton-Stanstead, Que.) announced an investment of up to $9.2 million to enhance the Youth Employment and Skills Program and fund up to 700 new positions for youth in the agriculture industry. This additional funding will help the agriculture industry attract Canadian youth, ages 15 to 30, to their organizations to assist with … Read more
The Canadian Emergency Business Account has potential to provide up to $670 million directly to farmers from the forgivable portion of Canadian Emergency Business Account interest-free loans. It is estimated that the expanded eligibility to the CEBA announced on May 19 more than doubled the amount of farmers eligible for the CEBA benefits. The changes … Read more
Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (Compton-Stanstead, Que.) issued a statement: “Today’s announced expansion of the eligibility to the Canada Emergency Business Account is a big deal for farmers across the country,” she said. “We listened to their concerns, and changed the eligibility to ensure farmers without payroll can now access the $40,000 interest-free loan available under CEBA … Read more
