BRANDON, Manitoba – The Government of Canada plans to invest more than $4.5 million to help upgrade Maple Leaf Inc.’s Manitoba pork processing facility. This investment will enable Maple Leaf to purchase and install new line processing, heat recovery and packaging equipment, as well as new value-added production lines.

"Upgrades to its Manitoba facilities will help Maple Leaf boost productivity and production capacity to fill new market opportunities, which in turn will increase the demand for producers' high-quality swine," said Minister of Public Safety and Regional Minister for Manitoba Vic Toews.

Under Canada's Economic Action Plan, the $60-million Slaughter Improvement Program allows for federal repayable contributions designed to support sound business plans aimed at reducing costs, increasing revenues, and improving the operations of meat packing and processing operations in Canada.

"Supporting Manitoba's meat production industry will return dividends to the farm gate and will create employment opportunities for years to come," said member of Parliament Merv Tweed. "Our government is proud to support Maple Leaf's expansions in Manitoba."

Maple Leaf Foods' total employment in Manitoba is expected to increase to approximately 4,000. Manitoba's pork industry contributes more than $750 million annually to the provincial economy and provides more than 13,000 jobs for Manitobans.

“Our Brandon and Winnipeg plants are vital to a healthy hog and production sector in the province," said Doug Dodds, chief strategy officer at Maple Leaf Foods. "We appreciate the support from the Government of Canada, and we are committed to making our plants in Brandon and Winnipeg as efficient and competitive in both the North American and export markets."