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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-08-02, Page 7News The Huron Expositor • August 2, 2006 Pogo 7 Federal funding pivotal in Brussels beef plant Paul Nichol argues there's room for more slaughtering plants In Ontario Susan- Hundertmark 111111111. An application for funding from the federal CanAdvance program is pivotal in the continuation of the Brussels beef plant, says Paul Nichol, manager . of the Huron Business Development Corporation. CanAdvance, a federal program that helps fund agricultural initia- tives, has declined the first applica- tion from the Brussels beef plant with concerns about whether or not there is any more room for more slaughtering plants in Ontario. "We're arguing that there is enough room for another plant in Canada," says Nichol, who recently appealed the decision. He says that during the BSE cri- sis, more cattle was being raised in Canada than the 80,000 head a week capacity that could be slaugh- tered at the time. Since then, the capacity has increased to 105,000 head of cattle a County warden says health unit not interested in amalgamation Bob Montgomery Huron County Warden Rob Morley says the Huron County Health Unit has no interest in amalgamating with neighbouring health units. Morley says the Perth County Health Unit has invited Huron to attend a meeting of area health units to discuss common interests, including the possibility of amalga- mation - something that was recom- mended in the recently -completed, province -wide capacity review. The Health Board is an indepen- dent board and not a committee of county council and Morley told coun- cil that amalgamation had been dis- cussed by the board and rejected. Morley says says Huron often works with neighbouring health units on common problems and would be interested in looking at ways that might be expanded. He says they would like to see the agenda before agreeing to attend the meeting. But he says the Huron Health Unit has no interest in amalgamat- ing and he says if that's the only issue on the agenda, Huron would not be attending. week, four-fifths of which is done by the big slaughtering plants. - "We're expecting to slaughter 1,000 head a week in Brussels and 'sell to the Far East and we're sure there's room for that," he says. The CanAdvance .funds will pro- vide 50-50 funding to ' develop an export sales plan and an "actual business plan that investors can take to the bank," said Nichol. "We're dead in the water if we don't get it," said Nichol, adding that the feasibility study points to some promising opportunities if the plant is built. A recent meeting at the Brussels stockyard which featured an Alberta catttleman, Rick Pascal, is supportive of the continuation of the Brussels beef plant's development. "Pascal told the farmers, 'Way to go. We need more packing plants in this country.' And, that was a cattle- man saying that," says Nichol. Pascal, who led a North American Free Trade Agreement lawsuit against the U.S. government over the border closure during the BSE crisis, said competition is necessary in beef processing. Nichol says money has started to "trickle in in dribs and drabs" investing in the Brussels beef plant but that the federal funding is nec- essary to continue. The CanAdvance funding would provide . $80,000 to $90,000 to match local investments by the Huron Business Development Corporation and other local investors. Here's yoijr opportunity to save lives . Please give at the Blood Donor clinic in- Seaforth. Monday, August 7, 2106 1:30 'p.m. - Seaforth Community Centre 122 Duke Street Please call andmake an appointment today. Call 1 888 2 DONATE for more information or to book an appointment. www.bloodservices.ca The Municipality of HURON EAST 519-527-0160 Seaforth Agricultural Society 519-527-1321 McLaughlin Chevrolet Ltd. 13 Main St. Seaforth 519427-1140 L. McGrath Pluming & Heating Inc. Seaforth 519.522.0493 Brian E. Wightman Certified General Accountant 'Seaforth 519-527-1331 Wh itney..Ribey Funeral Home 519-527-1390 87 Goderich St. W. Seaforth .