March 10, 2008

Treatment plant allows Canada's Manitoba to expand pork processing
 

A CAN$1.8 million upgrade to the town of Neepawa's waste-water treatment facility will allow for an expansion of Hytek's Springhill Farms hog-processing operation located there.

The expansion is designed to increase Manitoba's hog-processing capacity and to better prepare the province to respond to potential trade disruptions, including country-of-origin labeling, said Rosann Wowchuk, provincial minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives.

The province will directly contribute CAN$5.9 million to the project, the release said.

The remainder will come from Manitoba's share of the federal government's Community Development Trust, a program to help provinces assist communities suffering economic hardship.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer pledged support for the city's waste-water treatment facility, which will allow for an expansion of Maple Leaf Foods' processing capacity.

Wowchuk's announcement was welcomed by Springhill Farms chief executive Gut Baudry, who said the new waste-water treatment facility would take Springhill Farms to the next level.

Wowchuk also announced that the provincial government will provide Hytek with up to CAN$10 million in an interest-bearing, fully repayable loan through the Manitoba Industrial Opportunities Programme. The company will also receive CAN$600,000 in training assistance to support jobs created as a result of the Springhill Farms expansion.

US$1=CAN$0.99