Government of Canada Announces Investment to Help Create Agricultural Jobs in Gravelbourg

February 16, 2010

Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan – David Anderson, Member of Parliament for Cypress Hills-Grasslands on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced Government of Canada support to help Mustard Capital Inc. (MCI) strengthen economic opportunities in southern Saskatchewan.

“Investing in Mustard Capital’s plant expansion will create jobs for local workers, while strengthening our economy for the long term by increasing the plant’s production capacity,” said MP Anderson.

With the federal funding, MCI will purchase and install equipment at its new milling facility being built at Vanguard, approximately 50 kilometres west of Gravelbourg. The expanded capacity will result in a threefold increase in the company’s annual production volume. A minimum of four new jobs will be created by the project.

Federal funding of $300,000 is being provided through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. MCI is providing $1 million for the project.

“We appreciate the support from the CAF to help us advance our continuing business growth,” stated local farmer, President and Chairman of MCI, Gaetan Piché .  “We’re creating permanent jobs in rural Saskatchewan and increasing value added processing.”

MCI provides processed, high-quality yellow, oriental and brown mustard ingredients to about 350 customers in 25 countries. Approximately 250 mustard producers from Saskatchewan sell their crops to the company, which has developed a milling process that is unique to the Canadian marketplace. Saskatchewan producers are the world's largest mustard exporters thanks to the province’s hot, dry summers that yield the highest quality seed, and its warm, dry harvest conditions.

The Community Adjustment Fund will provide $306 million over two years to support the most affected western Canadian communities, such as those that are heavily reliant on resource-based industries. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the fund in the four western provinces.

Visit the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) in the West or Canada’s Economic Action Plan for more information.