Content area
Full text
It's positive to hear of new investments in ag production and processing in Canada; it strengthens the agri-food industry as one of the major but relatively unknown sectors of the Canadian economy. Recently Olymel, the giant Quebec-centric pork processor, announced that two Quebec government investment entities were investing $150 million into the company. The money is to improve processing infrastructure and is part of a $315 million company production expansion plan. The government money has to be expended in Quebec and cannot be used in Olymel facilities outside that province or, as it is soon to be known, the "Quebec Nation." This targeted Quebec nationalist investment will solidify Olymel as the largest pork and poultry processor in Canada. In Alberta, Olymel owns the largest hog processing plant in our province, or can we soon call it the "Alberta Nation."
This latest infusion of Quebec government cash into a major Quebec ag industry corporate entity brings to light some observations of what seems like a highly targeted economic strategy. It also causes one to wonder about what seems like intricate connections between large Quebec-based financial institutions like Desjardins...