Building an abattoir for Rainy River District has been discussed off and on for years, but the most recent plan was proposed at a public meeting in Barwick last Wednesday night—and it was stated this could be the last chance for the project.
“This is a very important meeting for the meat producers and the community at large,” Ken McKinnon, president of the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association, noted during his opening remarks.
“It’s our last kick at an abattoir and I hope we come away united,” he stressed. “I know we can’t satisfy everyone, but hopefully the majority.”
McKinnon said past abattoir talks didn’t transpire because it wasn’t financially feasible. The new idea is to have the RRCA take over the project on a not-for-profit basis so government funding could be accessed.
A steering committee—comprised of McKinnon, Peter Spuzak, Dennis Brown, Aarne Hahkala, and Russell Richards—was set up.
“We’ve been working with the [Rainy River Future Development Corp.] to put together a package of local district needs,” McKinnon remarked, citing the new plan has been downsized from the proposal made in the past.
“If anyone has a better idea, we’re open to suggestion,” he added. “We need the support of everyone. If we don’t work together, I don’t see this going forward.”
Gary Sliworsky, local rep for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, outlined the regulations for slaughter processing under the province’s Meat Inspections Act.
“All meat sold in Ontario must be inspected prior to slaughter, after slaughter, and must be stamped with an approved label,” he stressed.
Sliworsky noted there are three ways an animal can be slaughtered—in a provincially-licensed facility, a federally-licensed one, or imported from a federally-licensed establishment.
Provincially-licensed abattoirs serve local livestock producers and can sell only within Ontario’s borders while federally-licensed abattoirs can sell across Canada and anywhere else in world.
However, federally-licensed facilities tend to be much larger than provincially-inspected ones.
Sliworsky also indicated that as of Sept. 1, 2004, there was a slight change to the act regarding on-farm slaughtering.
“Animals slaughtered on-farm can only be processed for your own use and cannot be sold because it is not getting inspected before and after,” he warned.
Geoff Gillon, economic development officer with the RRFDC, then illustrated the newly-proposed project using a power-point presentation.
“We’re starting with a clean slate,” he began. “We’re trying one more time. The committee is looking for support.”
Gillon noted the RRFDC is proposing to construct a 6,000 sq. foot building and lease out the operations to a private sector company. “It’s smaller and strictly a kill facility,” he explained.
Gillon suggested the abattoir begin by operating three days a week, processing 20 animals a day, and have coolers to store 80 animals.
The plan weighed the option of a provincially-licensed facility versus a federally-licensed one, but indicated there would be no federal processing locally.
He also showed a diagram of a proposed layout for the building, mentioning he has several different diagrams.
Gillon next highlighted the estimated cost of the abattoir:
•Building—$1,100,000
•Equipment—$300,00
•Utilities—$250,000
•Land—$60,000
•Miscellaneous—$90,000
•Total—$1,800,000
Those proposing the plan also had looked into funding sources, with possibly $600,000 coming from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. (NOHFC), another $600,000 from FedNor, and hopefully generating $600,000 from within Rainy River District.
“It will help solve our current cull cow problem,” Gillon remarked.
Spuzak warned the district is losing “big money.”
“We can improve our situation,” he stressed. “We’d be adding $200/head.”
Gillon noted $600,000 is needed and he highlighted several fundraising options:
•A $500 non-refundable membership fee for project development costs, plus $2,000 member loan at zero percent interest with repayment at an undetermined future date;
•A one-time levy of $80 per animal; or
•A one-time $2,500 membership fee.
It was indicated any loans over $2,000 level earn three percent interest.
“We need commitment from members—$50,000 in seed money from membership fees,” Gillon said.
If there is enough support, Gillon stated a first board of directors would be elected that would look at incorporation, bylaws, and policies; start the development of the business plan; and determine the design, site, and method of the operation.
“We need a will to continue,” he concluded. “Have the will to make it happen.”
Jane Gillon, with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines office in Fort Frances, was on hand to explain to those in attendance the infrastructure and community development program, which only not-for-profit organizations are eligible to receive money from.
The infrastructure part if the program could grant no more than 50 percent for capital projects, up to a maximum of $1,000,000. The community development part of the program cannot exceed 50 percent, up to a maximum of $50,000.
Spuzak explained many stores in Rainy River District were for the abattoir project, with several offering to sell the locally-processed products. “That is something that needs to be developed,” he noted.
But Joe Sletmoen, who has worked in local grocery stores, noted most stores in Fort Frances cannot take beef because they don’t have the facilities.
With the question-and-answer period beginning, several questions were asked—some obviously in favour of the project while others seemed a little skeptical.
“We might not move 60 animals a week right off the bat,” McKinnon replied when asked how many animals they thought they could process. “It is something that will probably grow over time.
“We’re not going to kill animals we can’t market,” he stressed.
There was a question regarding who would pay for the meat inspector, but the reply said the Ontario government would look after the inspector once the facility became licensed.
“Why should I invest in this if I’m not a farmer?” asked one person.
It was responded the project would be good for the district as a whole.
“There are only two other facilities in Northwestern Ontario who kill—Dryden and Thunder Bay,” noted McKinnon. “This makes the only option to transport animals to kill.”
John Rafferty, who ran for the NDP here in the last two federal elections, acknowledged his support for the abattoir by offering to put his name down for a non-producer membership.
“We’re asking you, as a group, to move forward and to be prepared to support with money,” Gillon remarked. “We’ve gone down the road and we’re at the other end of the road now.
“If [the project] doesn’t work, it doesn’t work,” he stressed. “At least we can say we tried.”
Another attendee asked what timeframe they were looking at that the abattoir could be up and operating. “We don’t know, but we’re guessing two years,” answered McKinnon.
“The consumer in our area is already geared for this project,” added Spuzak. “They’re just waiting for us to do something.”
Pledge forms were available at the end of the meeting for those to sign who want to support the abattoir.
No money was requested right away—the steering committee only wanted a signature of support saying each person would offer the $500 membership fee and a $2,000 loan.
Many signed the forms right then and there while others took them home to discuss with their families before signing. They were told they could drop the forms off at the RRFDC within the week.
“We should know within two weeks to a month whether we’ll be moving forward,” said Gillon, noting nearly 30 signatures were gathered as of Feb. 20, as well as a couple of business donations.
Fort Frances Times
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