Details of $252-Million in Aid for Agriculture and Agri-Food Industry

Canada has seen reductions in food processing capacity as well as the closure of many restaurants and food services because of outbreaks nationwide. Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Foods gave details on the Prime Minister’s funding announcement Tuesday morning. 

Marie-Claude Bibeau started with AgriStability, which covers revenue losses such as the decline of egg prices. She says the program’s application deadline has been extended until July 3rd. In provinces that have enacted this program, Bibeau said producers can now access 75% of their expected benefit, up from 50%. A calculator is now available online to help estimate the level of support needed. 

Bibeau said $125-million will be put into the AgriRecovery fund to cover extraordinary costs faced by producers due to disaster. Once a province or territory activates the program, the eligible costs are then shared 60% by the federal government and 40%by the provincial government. Up to 70% of eligible expenses are normally covered by the program, but was pushed to 90% because of the current crisis. Under current conditions, she says the federal government will make available its 60% contribution in all provinces or territories regardless of the province’s contribution. 

Of the funds from the AgriRecovery program, up to $50-million dollars will fund a program to help cattle producers cover the extra cost of keeping their animals on the farms while they wait longer to be processed. Bibeau says another $50-million will be allocated to help pork producers cover the cost of managing their herd. 

Next is AgriInsurance, which Bibeau says covers the risks associated with adverse weather or crop conditions and given the current situation provinces and territories are asked to include labour shortages as eligible under the program.

Bibeau then goes into AgriInvest, which allows producers to build a savings account through yearly contributions that are matched by governments up to $10,000 a year. She says producers are able to draw on these accounts as they need down.

Bibeau then announced $77.5-million dollars in support of food processing in Canada that will be retroactive to March 25th. She also introduced the first-of-its-kind Food Surplus Purchase Program that will be receiving $50-million to help with the purchase and distribution of surplus foods to organizations such as food banks. And to help manage the surplus of dairy products Bibeau says she is proposing to increase the borrowing capacity of the Canadian Dairy Commission by $200-million.

Continue Reading

chnv Now playing play

ckkc Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

B.C. adds 5k jobs in June, led by gains in part-time work

British Columbia added 5,000 jobs in June but saw a dip in full-time employment, according to the latest jobs report from Statistics Canada. 

B.C. maintains decision to end drug coverage for girl with rare, fatal disease

B.C. is standing by the decision not to continue drug coverage for a Vancouver Island girl with a rare, fatal disease. 

Measles cases reported in B.C. this year top 100

B.C.’s health officials have said 102 cases of measles have been reported across B.C. so far this year, with most of those in the Northern Health region.

Puck drop date set for KIJHL season

The puck will drop on the 2025-26 KIJHL regular season on Friday, September 19, when the league’s 21 teams each embark on a 44-game schedule.

Council votes to bring Baker Street market back downtown

Following months of community debate and vendor frustration, Nelson’s Wednesday farmers market will return to it’s longtime home on Baker Street next week (July 16). 
- Advertisement -