Saguenay, Quebec, November 27, 2010 - The Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), Jean-Pierre Blackburn, and the Ministre de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation and Ministre d'Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire, Laurent Lessard, are pleased to announce an investment of nearly $60 million spread over four years. This financial support is for the implementation of three initiatives to provide adaptation measures for Quebec agri-businesses and to develop the sector.

"Our Government supports major regional initiatives through substantial financial backing that helps agri-businesses adjust and contribute to the sector's development. Here, in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, enterprises will benefit from an additional support making our producers more competitive, creating jobs and strengthening our economy as they experience more and more growth and success" said Minister Blackburn.

The financial assistance will help to set up measures aimed at improving management capacity and accelerating the investments necessary for increasing business efficiency. In addition, producers from the regions and RCM identified as a priority, including the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, will be eligible for an additional assistance and will get in total up to $80,000.

"The Government of Quebec is committed to assisting each agri-business more in their new business environment. The additional financial assistance that we announced yesterday not only provides farmers with made-to-measure financial support, but also makes available new sectoral assistance that will complement Quebec's Stratégie de soutien à l'adaptation des enterprises agricoles and ensure the development of the bio-food industry in Quebec," said Minister Lessard.

These measures are part of three initiatives announced yesterday by Minister Blackburn and Minister Lessard. The Initiative d'appui aux services-conseils, the Initiative d'appui à la modernisation and the Initiative d'accompagnement des secteurs dans leur développement will receive $35 million from the federal government under the Agricultural Flexibility Funds and $23.33 million from the Quebec government under the Stratégie de soutien à l'adaptation des enterprises agricoles.

Agriculture is a core economic driver in Canada, which is why the Government of Canada is also investing in the agricultural sector through Canada's Economic Action Plan. For more information, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For information on the Stratégie de soutien à l'adaptation des enterprises agricoles, visit the Website of Quebec's Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation, at www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca or call the toll-free number 1-888-830-6340.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Céline Falardeau
Senior Policy Advisor
Communications Lead
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
613-302-551

Clément Falardeau
Media Relations Officer
Communications Directorate
Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation
418-380-2100, ext. 3512

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