Skip to main content
24-12 - Provincial Abattoir Funding
The BFO Directors can appreciate the challenges small community abattoirs are faced with. It should be noted that, since this resolution was brought forward, BFO has raised these concerns at both the provincial and federal levels of government.
In June of this year, BFO attended an agriculture roundtable focused on key topics impacting small businesses hosted by the Honourable Associate Minister of Small Business, Nina Tangri. BFO expressed that it is difficult for small businesses, such as small community abattoirs, to take advantage of cost-share programs due to a lack of available cash flow.
We recommended strategic investments that align the government’s provincial agri-food strategy, Grow Ontario. These include a combination of no-interest, non-repayable loans and funding programs with a higher cost-share percentage that would allow abattoirs to meet the growing demand for Ontario beef while enhancing their financially stability.
Earlier this month, we had meetings in Ottawa with Members of Parliament and held a lobby day at Queen’s Park in Toronto where we met with Members of Provincial Parliament to discuss a number of our priorities. The recommendations noted above were brought up along with a request for simplified programming and a sufficient funding window that will allow businesses the ability to plan, build and execute their growth strategies.
We will continue to advocate on behalf of community abattoirs and update the membership on any future developments.