Regional Development and Buy-Local Policy: Ottawa and Quebec to Provide Financial Assistance to Boréalait

From: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

News release

August 20, 2019 – Saint-Félix-de-Dalquier, Quebec – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, André Lamontagne, announced that the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec are each providing financial assistance, for a total of $49,687, to Boréalait, a business located in Saint-Félix-de-Dalquier, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

Programme Territoires: Priorités bioalimentaires

The company will receive $32,250 from the Quebec government’s Programme Territoires: Priorités bioalimentaires [Territories program: Bio-food priorities]. The goal of this program is to support the development and growth of the bio‑food sector according to established priorities in order to contribute to the region’s development and vitality. This program supports projects considered priorities by the sector and by the region concerned. This funding will be used for the commercial production of the first regional yogurt.

Programme Proximité

A grant of $17,437 is being provided from Programme Proximité under the Canada-Quebec Canadian Agricultural Partnership agreement. This program aims to encourage the bio-food sector’s small-scale producers and processors to take advantage of business opportunities available through local markets. This funding will be used to implement the company’s marketing plan.

These investments attest to the government’s commitment to support the establishment of bio‑food businesses in the regions and the promotion of local products. The bio-food sector contributes to the development, growth and attractiveness of rural regions, in keeping with the 2018–2025 Bio-food Policy – Feeding Our World. Boréalait contributes to the region’s development and vitality, in addition to supporting the regional economy and providing the population with access to healthy, locally produced food.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is proud to partner with the Government of Quebec to support the development and improve the competitiveness of emerging food processing companies, which, like Boréalait, help boost the economic health of our agricultural communities and rural regions, providing healthy and locally produced food."

- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“Promoting a buy-local policy and helping businesses connect with consumers are priorities for our government, along with promoting regional development. By supporting companies like Boréalait, the Government of Quebec is reaffirming its commitment to strengthen the economy of the regions and the competiveness of Quebec’s bio-food producers."

- André Lamontagne, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Quick facts

  • The Programme Territoires: Priorités bioalimentaires is divided into two components:

    • Component 1: Support for the identification of regional bio-food priorities;
    • Component 2: Support for the implementation of projects that address regional bio-food priorities.

  • For 2019–2020, the Programme Territoires: Priorités bioalimentaires has a budget of $3.5 million from the Quebec government. 

  • The Programme Proximité is divided into two components:

    • Component 1: Support for collective initiatives;
    • Component 2: Support for individual initiatives.

  • For 2019–2020, the Programme Proximité has a budget of $1.4 million from the Government of Canada.

  • The Canada-Quebec Agreement on the implementation of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership provides for a total of $293 million in funding from the Government of Canada (60%) and the Government of Quebec (40%) over a five-year period, from 2018 to 2023. This agreement supports strategic initiatives that will help the sectors to grow, innovate and prosper.

Associated links

Contacts

Justine Lesage
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
justine.lesage@canada.ca
613-404-1168 (Cell)

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@canada.ca
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Laurence Voyzelle
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture, 
Fisheries and Food
418-380-2525

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