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Guelph, Ontario, November 8, 2004 MP for Guelph, Brenda Chamberlain, today
announced on behalf of the Honourable Andy Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture and
Agri-Food, a five-year funding package worth $36.7 million to the Agricultural
Adaptation Council under the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF)
Program, to help implement new projects that will benefit Ontario’s production
and processing sector and bolster its capacity to address current and emerging
issues. “I am pleased that the Government of Canada is supporting the
Agricultural Adaptation Council,” said Ms. Chamberlain. “The council does
tremendous work in helping to advance the agriculture and agri-food sector in
Ontario.” As the successor to the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development
(CARD) Fund, the five-year, $255-million ACAAF Program, launched April 7, 2004,
is aimed at positioning Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry to seize new
market opportunities. Under ACAAF, the industry councils located in every
province and territory will continue to play a pivotal role in delivering
regional agriculture and agri-food projects. The councils’ annual ACAAF base
allocation was increased from $25 million, previously under CARD, to $27.3
million, based on feedback received during extensive industry consultations held
last year.
The Agricultural Adaptation Council, based out of Guelph, will be responsible
for delivering ACAAF funds in Ontario. Over the next five years, the
Agricultural Adaptation Council will manage an annual budget of $7.3 million.
The council will also be able to access additional funding by undertaking
collective outcome projects in collaboration with other councils and national
organizations. “I am confident that today’s announcement will help the
industry councils to continue their strong track record of helping to drive a
wide range of regional projects,” said Minister Mitchell. “These investments
will help support a profitable and sustainable future for producers and their
local communities across Canada.” “The Agricultural Adaptation Council would
like to congratulate Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on the development and
implementation of this innovative funding program,” says Bob Bedggood, Chair.
“The council has been an effective and efficient administrator of funding and
looks forward to delivering the ACAAF program in Ontario. This program is
another good example of government and industry working together for the long
term sustainability of Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food industry.” The
Agricultural Adaptation Council is a not-for-profit corporation that is a
coalition of 58 member organizations covering a broad cross-section of the
Ontario agri-food sector, from primary production to value-added processing. It
provides funding for innovative projects designed to foster increased long term
growth, self-reliance, employment and competitiveness for Ontario’s agri-food
sector. To obtain more information on the AAC, other industry councils or on
the
ACAAF program, please visit
www.agr.gc.ca/acaaf.
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For more information, media may contact:
Elizabeth Whiting Media Relations
Minister’s Office Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa Ottawa
(613) 759-1059 (613) 759-7972 | 
