Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Beef processor hopes for funding
A $50-million program expected in today's federal budget to increase Canadian livestock slaughter capacity could provide a big boost to the fledgling Keystone Processors Ltd. beef plant in St. Boniface, its president says.The slaughter enhancement initiative was one of three budget planks -- totalling more than $1.5 billion -- that were leaked by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in Edmonton on Friday.
It comes as Canada struggles to boost its meat processing in light of new country of origin labelling rules in the United States that threaten to inhibit meat exports there.
"I think it's a great announcement provided the money is distributed fairly," said Kelly Penner, Keystone Processors' president.
The company, which is converting the old Maple Leaf pork plant at 663 Marion St. into a beef processing plant, expects to begin operating on a small scale in about three weeks. At first it will be simply processing sides of beef, but the company hopes to refurbish the facility into a federally inspected cattle slaughter and processing plant by late 2010 or early 2011 -- an endeavour requiring $25 million in additional investment, Penner said.
The process could be sped up if Keystone were able to get its financing in place by spring, he said. Federal funding could help accomplish that.
Keystone is also talking to potential Asian investors. It has already received an injection of $2.4 million from the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council, which is funded by a producer checkoff and provincial matching grants.
Kate Butler, executive director of the MCEC, said her group is "very excited" about the federal program, which was promised during the last election.
"It's not only welcome, I think it's necessary," said Butler, whose organization was formed in the wake of the BSE crisis that temporarily closed the U.S. border to Canadian cattle. She said the MCEC would assist Keystone and other Manitoba companies to act quickly to access the federal funds.
It's unknown whether the federal government will make its slaughter capacity assistance conditional on provincial matching grants. Provincial Agriculture Minister Rosann Wowchuk said Monday that Manitoba would want to review the program's details before making a commitment.
larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 27, 2009 B4
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