B.C. to increase local milk production with $25-million factory investment
The British Columbia government is contributing up to $25 million toward the expansion of a milk production plant aimed at boosting the supply of locally sourced food.
The province said the construction expansion to Vitalus Nutrition's plant in Abbotsford, B.C., will begin this summer and will increase local milk production by 50 per cent, to 1.4 billion litres annually.
The project will boost local production for dairy products such as butter, which is currently required to be shipped from Eastern Canada to fill local demand, the government said in a statement.
Premier David Eby told a news conference announcing the project Tuesday that it will also create up to 100 more jobs at the site.
Eby said the pandemic as well as recent climate disasters, including the atmospheric river that swamped southwestern British Columbia in November 2021, impacted supply chains, elevated grocery prices and showed a need to produce more food locally.
“We understand that we still need to ensure that we've got a strong future here because these are challenging times for families and individuals right across the province,” Eby told the conference. “That's why this investment and this support is so important to address food prices, food security, jobs (and) economic growth.”
He said the investment will also create positive ripple effects across the region.
“The true impact of this investment will be across Western Canada, because the expansion of this facility will mean billions of additional dollars of dairy quota for farmers in British Columbia, and other parts of Western Canada, who will be able to create thousands of additional jobs in our province.”
Brenda Bailey, minister of jobs, economic development and innovation, said the milk production plant expansion will also anchor B.C.'s new industrial development blueprint, which aims to focus on growing clean energy and sustainable industries.
“The blueprint will map out the province's work to drive new investment, to create new jobs and seize new opportunities in growing clean energy and sustainable industries right across our province. This is important because clean industries making and using clean energy will improve our quality of life and strengthen B.C.'s diverse economy today and for future generations,” she said.
“By helping companies like Vitalis grow right here at home, we're not only strengthening our food supply chain and boosting our food security, we're also creating opportunities for British Columbians.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Princess Anne to take part in B.C. ceremony bringing new ship into Pacific fleet
Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
NEW Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Feds giving Toronto more than $104M to host 2026 FIFA World Cup
The federal government will provide Toronto just over $104 million in funding to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Police move in to clear NYU encampment, U.S. campus arrests grow to 2,200 in pro-Palestinian protests
Police moved in to clear an encampment at New York University on Friday at the request of school officials, a move that follows weeks of pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses nationwide that have resulted in nearly 2,200 arrests by police.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'
Parents of infant who died in wrong-way crash on Ontario's Hwy. 401 were in same vehicle
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has released new details about a wrong-way collision in Whitby on Monday night that claimed the lives of four people.