OTTAWA –  Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright, said he is delighted with of the Conservative Government’s decision to invest up to $3 million for a series of pilot projects that will investigate and help better position provincial meat processors to move their high quality product across the country.

“Canada has high federal food safety standards, and producers and processors are proud of their safe, high quality meat,” said Benoit. “However, they are often unable to sell to customers just kilometres away because of where a provincial border may fall.”

“With the east side of my constituency bordering Saskatchewan, this is certainly an issue that has been brought to my attention, and through my past work as Inter-Provincial Trade Critic I am well aware of the problems created by red tape and lack of cohesion. Now our government will be working with the provinces to bring some common sense into interprovincial trade so that producers and processors can share their products with more Canadian consumers,” said Benoit.

He went on to explain that the federal investment in this initiative is being delivered through the Agricultural Flexibility Fund, and the pilot projects will be part of a roadmap that will expand interprovincial trade in meat. Facilities interested in participating in the pilot project have until January 7, 2011 to submit an application to the province, and information about the project can be found at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/meavia/interprov/interprove.shtml

“By working to break down interprovincial trade barriers and reduce red tape, this new initiative will expand Canada’s meat market, which will benefit our producers, processors and packers, and consumers,” concluded Benoit.