Appreciating our role in food supply

Winnipeg North

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/11/2023 (1002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It would likely not surprise you to know that the population of Manitoba is just over 1.35 million people, but did you know that Manitoba processes well over six million pigs each year and that about half of all the bacon eaten in Canada is produced here in Winnipeg?

My good friend Lawrence MacAulay, the federal Minister of Agriculture was in Manitoba earlier this month, and the two of us had the opportunity to tour two plants. Our first stop was just outside of Portage La Prairie, where we toured what could be the largest pea-processing facility in the world. I learned that not all peas are green and that yellow peas make up a large part of our food supply. Roquette is a French company which has invested millions into Manitoba, supports hundreds of farmers and has well over 100 employees, all of which puts Manitoba at the forefront of pea processing.

Manitoba’s pork industry is even more impressive. A handful of companies in Manitoba process a combined number of over six million pigs a year. This means a great deal to our communities, and it contributes to all of us in different ways. Communities such as Neepawa, Brandon, Winkler and, of course, Winnipeg have all directly benefited from the thousands of jobs in the industry — from the plant floors where the pork is processed to the administrative offices. Not to mention the farmers, veterinarians, and companies providing services to support the industry. Those are all direct jobs, and these workers all need vehicles, home, furniture, food, clothes and so much more. The pork industry also generates income for the different levels of government which in turn provide many social services we require.

Min. MacAulay and I toured a Maple Leaf Foods production centre where I witnessed hundreds of employees doing incredible work to provide Canadians ham and bacon. Touring huge fridges and seeing tens of thousands of pork bellies was impressive. Seeing the way computers, robots, conveyor belts and people worked together, one can appreciate how the company can produce not only huge quantities of product but arguably the best product in the world. I was told that 50 per cent of the bacon eaten in Canada comes from here in Winnipeg. The workers I spoke with were proud of what the plant produces, and they understand the important role they play in our food supply network.

I appreciated the minister’s visit to Winnipeg and for me it reinforced a few things for me — Manitoba is fortunate to have people with varying skills and expertise to support our food processing industries; and that Canada plays an important role in the world food-supply chain.