Question Period Note: Supplementary Estimates (C) 2022-2023 ─ ACOA

Can you highlight the details of the adjustments made to ACOA's Supplementary Estimates (C) for 2022-2023?

• ACOA is requesting an additional $0.5 million as part of Supplementary Estimates (C).
• The amount transferred from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will supplement ACOA’s $5 million repayable contribution to the Real Dairy Company in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• The Real Dairy Company is building a new secondary processing facility in Deer Lake with funding from the federal and provincial governments.
• The establishment of a secondary processing facility is significant for all of Newfoundland and Labrador. By supporting this project, the Government of Canada is working to address self-sufficiency and food security and help strong, resilient businesses contribute to a swift economic recovery and a prosperous future for all Atlantic Canadians.
• ACOA is requesting additional authorities as follows:
• $0.5 million related to a transfer from the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food to support establishing a Dairy Secondary Processing project in Newfoundland and Labrador. The remainder of the transfer ($2.5 million) is planned for Main Estimates 2023-2024.
• Agriculture and Agri-Food is providing up to $8 million to the Real Dairy Company for the project. A repayable amount of $3 million is being administered by ACOA on their behalf.

Upon tabling, ACOA’s total authorities will show as $466.5 million, an increase of $0.5 million over the authorities of $466.0 million approved to date. The increase of $0.5 million relates to a transfer from the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food to support establishing a Dairy Secondary Processing project in Newfoundland and Labrador.
On July 27, 2021, Gudie Hutchings, Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, announced a federal investment from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency of $5 million (repayable) for The Real Dairy Company of Newfoundland Ltd. to establish a secondary dairy processing facility.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is making an additional investment of up to $8 million toward the new facility ($5 million non-repayable and $3 million repayable).
This funding is in addition to a $5 million investment from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced in July 2020.
The Real Dairy Company of Newfoundland Ltd. – a private company made up of 13 Newfoundland and Labrador dairy farmers and Glenstal Foods Limited of Limerick, Ireland – will build the processing facility in Deer Lake, NL.
The new facility will create capacity for secondary processing of all excess industrial milk produced in Newfoundland and Labrador, which is currently shipped out of the province. The announcement demonstrated the Government of Canada’s commitment to investing in the dairy industry, so it is well-positioned for sustainable future growth.
The Business Development Program (BDP) is the main program through which ACOA helps entrepreneurs launch, modernize, and grow their business in Atlantic Canada. ACOA will amend its contribution agreement to include AAFC’s $3-million repayable contribution, for a total repayable contribution of up to $8 million.

None