Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative
The Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative seeks to enhance the capacity processing capabilities within the province’s meat processing plants and abattoirs.
The Initiative will provide funding to eligible free-standing meat plants and abattoirs so they can make short-term investments in meat handling and processing equipment, technologies and practices that improve operational efficiency and productivity.
Offered by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Ministry of Rural Affairs
Amount
Up to $150,000
60% of Eligible Costs up to a maximum of $150,000 in funding under the Initiative (maximum $150,000 across all projects per Applicant)
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Who can apply
To be eligible to participate in the Initiative, an Applicant will meet the following requirements:
- be a Meat Processor
- have a valid provincial or federal meat plant operator license
- provide its:
- CRA BN, or
- SIN, but only if the Applicant is not eligible to have a CRA BN and has been found eligible to participate in the Initiative and is also eligible to receive an Initiative Payment
- submit a completed Ministry-approved Application Form to the Ministry in accordance with what is set out under section 4.4 of the Guidelines
- undertake an activity set out in section 4.1.1 of the Guidelines
- have a valid and up-to-date Premises ID Number for the business location(s) where the Project is to take place (to register for or update a Premises ID Number, visit the Provincial Premises Registry)
- Be in compliance with the following for its business operations at the time of applying to the Initiative:
- environmental-related Requirements Of Law
- labour-related Requirements Of Law
- tax-related Requirements Of Law
- material compliance with all other Requirements Of Law
- Is not, nor is any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), a current or former federal public office holder or federal public servant, or if the Applicant is, or any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is, the Applicant, or that officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is in compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act (Canada), the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (Canada), the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector (Canada) and the Policy on Conflict of Interest and Post-employment (Canada), as applicable
- Is not, nor is any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), a member of the House of Commons on the Senate, or, if the Applicant is, or any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is, the Applicant, or the officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), is permitted under the Parliament of Canada Act (Canada) to receive funding from Canada under the Sustainable CAP
- agree that any intellectual property rights arising from their Project, should the Applicant be found to be eligible to participate in the Initiative as well as receive an Initiative Payment, belongs to the Applicant
- agree that Canada and Ontario may, should the Applicant be found to be eligible to participate in the Initiative as well as receive an Initiative Payment, publish information about the Applicant, including:
- project-related information
- the Name of the Applicant
- the amount of funding Canada and Ontario provided
- the outcome of the Project
- agree to be bound by the terms, conditions and requirements of the Initiative, as set out in the Minister’s Order, the Guidelines and the Approval Letter
Meat Processor:
A Person that is a business that processes meat, including a slaughterhouse/abattoir, and has a provincial or federal meat plant operator license.
About the funding
The purpose of the Initiative is to provide cost-share support to Meat Processors for equipment upgrades that will increase their processing capacity by enhancing productivity and efficiency.
A recipient is eligible to be approved for 60% of Eligible Costs up to a maximum of $150,000 in funding under the Initiative.
Applicants can apply multiple times to the Initiative. However, the maximum approved amount of cost-share funding across all projects per Applicant is $150,000 under this Initiative.
The following activities are eligible under the Initiative:
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- Incremental activities that increase the efficiency and productivity of Meat Processor facilities incurred on or after July 26, 2023. Eligible activities must be for Ontario facilities.
The following costs are eligible for the purposes of the Initiative, provided they were reasonably incurred and necessary to complete the Recipient’s Project:
- Costs that were incurred on or after July 26, 2023 but on or before March 1, 2024
- Costs that reflect the actual costs to the Recipient, less any costs, including taxes, for which the Recipient has received, will receive or is eligible to receive, a rebate, credit or refund
- Increased cooler/freezer capacity: equipment costs to increase cooler/freezer capacity, including:
- reefer trailers
- condenser units
- seals on cooler/freezer doors
- air flow upgrades in coolers/ freezers (such as fans)
- Waste management: waste management handling/processing costs, including:
- equipment and structures to handle, store and dispose of deadstock and for processing by-products (such as blood and wastewater holding tanks)
- equipment and structures to handle, store and dispose of specified risk materials (SRM) (such as chilled and frozen storage, SRM screen system for whole plant)
- in-vessel composting, treatment and disposal (such as hides, feathers, deadstock)
- Animal handling and hygienic slaughter: animal handling/processing costs, including:
- barn/holding pen upgrades (such as chute design, increase size/capacity)
- animal restraints/knock boxes/upgrades (such as non-slip floor, upright restraints)
- kill floor/evisceration room equipment (such as stunning equipment, hoists, bleed rail, saws, pneumatic skinning knife, hide pullers, leg cutters)
- Product handling: product handling/processing costs, including:
- processing equipment
- conveyer/rail systems
- winches
- hydraulics
- skinning beds/cradles
- automated tote washer
- scales
- vacuum and other packaging
- mixers
- carcass spray equipment/acid applicators
- steamers
- Professional services: costs for engineering/professional services for equipment that is an Eligible Cost under the Project
- Training: 1-time costs to train key personnel on Project-related equipment and technology (such as train the trainer)
- Third-party installation: 1-time installation costs specifically required for the Project
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