GATINEAU, QC – The dairy sector plays a vital role in Canada'seconomy, contributing $20.9 billion through sales by farmers and food processors, including over $7 billion in Quebec. The Government of Canada knows the importance of supporting a strong and competitive dairy sector, to ensure Canadian families continue to benefit from high-quality products while creating well-paying jobs.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Member of Parliament (La Prairie), Jean-Claude Poissant, along with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility and Member of Parliament (Gatineau), Steven MacKinnon, today announced an investment of up to $584,063 to La Trappe à Fromage de l'Outaouais. This funding will help the cheese processor purchase and install automation equipment to optimize processing, improve product quality and production capacity, and food safety.
Also announced, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), is $300,000 in financial assistance in the form of a repayable contribution. The funding, provided under CED's Quebec Economic Development Program, will allow the company to purchase and install equipment to digitize production.
La Trappe à Fromage's ongoing expansion is expected to increase production and use of milk, lower production costs, expand markets in Quebec and Ontario, and improve the company's competitiveness.
Quick Facts
- La Trappe à Fromage de l'Outaouais' expansion and automation project is supported by the Dairy Processing Investment Fund, a $100 million, four-year (2017-21) program designed to help dairy processors modernize their operations and diversify their product lines to pursue new market opportunities.
- Gatineau-based La Trappe à Fromage is a small-scale enterprise in operation since 1995 (incorporated in 2010), which specializes in soft cheddar, vintage Brick, Colby and cheddar, specialty farmhouse cheese and raclette, and Brie, employing 60 workers.
- Canada's dairy sector is also supported by the associated Dairy Farm Investment Program, a $250 million, five-year federal investment launched in August 2017. To date, over 1900 projects have been approved for funding support valued at over $128 million, including over 870 projects and over $49 million in Quebec (as of November 2, 2018), in a wide array of projects from small investments in cow comfort equipment to large ones for automated milking systems.
Associated Links
- Dairy Processing Investment Fund
- Dairy Farm Investment Program
- Quebec Economic Development Program
- La Trappe à Fromage de l'Outaouais
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Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
