SOUTH LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA - A Langley agri-tourism farm will create jobs and grow new opportunities to meet market demands with the support of Canada's Economic Action Plan (EAP). Member of Parliament Mark Warawa (Langley), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced today an investment of more than $75,000 to Vista D'oro Farms Ltd. toward the purchase and installation of new equipment for its micro-processing line.

"Our government is committed to creating jobs, growth, and long-term economic prosperity for the Canadian agriculture industry," said MP Warawa. "This investment will help Vista D'oro expand its production capacity, create local jobs, increase domestic and export sales, and will benefit area farmers through heightened demand for their products."

The investment made through the AgriProcessing Initiative (API) will be used to purchase new equipment, including larger cooking vessels and chopping equipment. These improvements will result in shorter cooking times, increased production, decreased waste, and savings on energy costs. It will also support the creation of three full-time and ten part-time positions.

Vista D'oro is a culinary tourism destination that produces a variety of foods such as fruit preserves, salsas, pickled vegetables, and wine using agricultural commodities grown on-site and from local farms. The project is expected to greatly increase the company's procurement of these products, benefitting local farmers.

"The API interest-free loan allowed us to purchase specialized preserve-making equipment to assist in growing our artisanal preserve production capacity," said Lee Murphy, President and Jam Master of Vista D'oro Farms Ltd. "Our growth plans include expanding our export activities as well as increasing our current local market share, while maintaining the hand-crafted quality our customers expect from us. The new equipment will also allow us to create new product offerings, which I'm extremely excited to share with our customers."

This repayable contribution is being delivered by the Agricultural Flexibility Fund through the AgriProcessing Initiative, a five year, up to $50 million initiative designed to enhance the competitiveness of the agri-processing sector in Canada. It provides support to existing companies for projects that involve the adoption of innovative and new-to-company manufacturing technologies and processes that are essential to sustaining and improving the sector's position in today's global marketplace. For more information on this program, visit www.agr.gc.ca/api.

Through Canada's EAP, the Government of Canada is helping farmers find new markets, adapt to current economic challenges, and make their businesses more efficient and environmentally sustainable. The Next Phase of the EAP will remain focused on strengthening the economy while working toward returning to balanced budgets and securing Canada's economic future. For more information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

Contact Information

Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972 1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch, Director of Communications, The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

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Tags: Child Advocacy centres, increased funding, Mark Warawa, MP Mark Warawa, National Victims of Crime, National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, NVCAW, support, tools, victim's fund

Submitted. April 22-28th marks National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (NVCAW). Today, the Conservative Government has announced increased funding to the Victim’s Fund by $7 million over five years, $5 million of which will be directed to the creation and enhancement of Child Advocacy Centres across Canada.

“Our Government is committed to ensuring criminals are held fully accountable for their actions and that the safety and security of law-abiding Canadians and victims come first in Canada’s justice system,” says Langley MP Mark Warawa.

We have made the concerns of victims a priority and we will continue to make meaningful changes for victims of crime by providing them with the support and tools that they need.”

NVCAW builds on our Government’s strong track record of taking real action for victims of crime. For example:

Introduced the Federal Victims Strategy and have committed $78 million to respond to the needs of victims of crime since 2007.
We introduced Bill C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, and as promised, passed this important legislation within the first 100 sitting days of the Parliamentary Session.
On April 20, the Prime Minister announced a new income support benefit to parents of children deceased or missing due to a suspected Criminal Code offence. The income support benefit will ease the financial pressure on parents struggling to cope with the death or disappearance of a child, and;
Today’s announcement of increased funding to the Victim’s Fund by $7 million over five years, $5 million of which will be directed to the creation and enhancement of Child Advocacy Centres across Canada.

Warawa points out the Conservatives have also repealed the faint hope clause so families are not re-victimized at additional parole hearings for loved ones; ended sentence discounts for multiple murders to acknowledge the value of each life taken and bring truth to sentencing; and passed legislation to reduce the circulation of child pornography and rescue young victims.

“Every victim – no matter who they are, where they are from or how they were victimized – should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity,” says Warawa. “We will continue to fight crime and protect Canadians so that our communities are safe places for people to live, raise their families and do business.”