HELPING FOOD PROCESSORS IN HAMILTON LOWER BUSINESS COSTS

JANUARY 26, 2024

HAMILTON – Investments by the governments of Canada and Ontario through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) are resulting in more than $16 million worth of energy cost savings projects to help food processing businesses increase energy efficiency and lower their costs.  

Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook, is pleased to announce that the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative will provide up to $108,000.00 for two companies in the Hamilton Region. 

• Up to $34,000.00, for Mama Yolanda’s in Hamilton, to implement an advanced cooling system for their tomato and meat sauces operations, to reduce the plant’s energy consumption, improve overall efficiency, and reduce operating costs.
• Up to $74,000.00, for Brenn-B Farms in Waterdown, for LED lights, new high-efficiency KOOLJET units, and replacement of the warehouse wooden walls and roof with insulated metal panels to increase energy efficiencies and energy use savings.

“I am pleased to see the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative funding these projects in the Hamilton Region,” said Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook. “By supporting Ontario’s robust food processing sector, we are strengthening the local food supply chain here at home.”

30 food processors across the province will be supported by the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative to help lower their costs to be more competitive and sustainable. The Initiative focused on supporting projects that prioritized reducing greenhouse gas emissions by investing in new technology, equipment, or facility modifications. This funding will contribute to an anticipated $3 million in annual operational cost savings for recipient businesses.   

“As the food processing hub of Canada, Ontario is uniquely poised to see further growth in this sector which is why our government is continuing to bring forward initiatives that work,” said Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Through the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative and a host of other actions, we’re making significant progress in achieving the ambitious targets for growth we’ve set out in our Grow Ontario Strategy.”

The Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative was developed following discussions with Ontario’s food processing sector. It is part of a series of initiatives the government has implemented to support food processing in Ontario including committing up to $25 million through the Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative, which applications open on February 15, 2024. 

Under the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative, applicants could receive up to 20 per cent cost-share funding for eligible costs, to a maximum of $300,000, per business. Projects supported through the initiative are to be completed by March 31, 2025.

Sustainable CAP is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.

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MPP Office Contact

Grant MacLean 905-679-3770 or grant.maclean@pc.ola.org