Jerry Pickard, Member of Parliament for Chatham-Kent Essex, is pleased to announce that the Hon. Lyle Vanclief, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, will be visiting Chatham-Kent on Monday, May 13 to attend two events.

Minister Vanclief, accompanied by Mr. Pickard, will first attend the official opening of Wellington Polymer Technology Inc., located at 650 Riverview Dr., Unit 1. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion will take place at 10:45 a.m. Wellington Polymer Technology Inc. has created an innovative way to mix the fibres of hemp straw and flax with plastics - including recyclable agricultural plastics - to manufacture a simulated cedar shingle-roofing product called Enviroshake.

The product will utilize what was formerly considered a waste portion of the plant and create a viable market for Ontario growers.

The project received initial federal government funding of $250,000 from the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development (CARD) Fund through the Agricultural Adaptation Council - a coalition of 54 agricultural, agri-business and rural organizations working together to support Ontario's agricultural sector and rural communities.

This assistance allowed Wellington Polymer Technology Inc. to further develop a unique commercial product that is manufactured in Chatham-Kent. Last November at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Wellington Polymer Technology Inc. was awarded the first-ever Canadian Agri-Food Award of Excellence for Innovation in recognition of its contribution to the vitality of Canada's agri-food sector. Following the visit to Wellington Polymer Technology Inc., Minister Vanclief and Mr. Pickard will attend a luncheon, hosted by the Chatham & District Chamber of Commerce. The luncheon will take place at Pioneer Hi-Bred Production Ltd., located at 7399 Queen's Line, where Minister Vanclief will address community and sector representatives, and participate in a Question and Answer session beginning at 12:45 p.m.

"By visiting Chatham-Kent, Minister Vanclief is demonstrating his commitment to the significant place that the agriculture and agri-food industry holds in our country's economy, as well as the important contribution of Chatham-Kent to this industry. Chatham-Kent welcomes Minister Vanclief and is very much looking forward to his visit to the area o May 13," said Mr. Pickard.

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