Government of Canada supporting Indigenous-led partnership to create new business possibilities and work opportunities in Alberta’s agriculture sector

$5 million contribution through PrairiesCan to support the development of an Indigenous owned industrial hemp processing plant in Elk Stage, Alberta

ELK Point, AB, Could 3, 2024 /CNW/ – A competitive and sustainable agriculture sector is a very important contributor to the Canadian economic climate. Crop and animal production, processing of food and food substances, and producing of merchandise like biofuels and hemp fibre are crucial financial motorists that guidance good quality positions. The Govt of Canada is investing in initiatives that enhance the benefit of agriculture, progress reconciliation, produce employment, and build new possibilities for companies.

These days, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, introduced $5 million in federal funding via the Community Economic Advancement and Diversification fund for the Askiy Hemp Minimal Partnership (Askiy) to assemble a point out-of-the-artwork industrial hemp processing plant in Elk Place, Alberta. When total, the plant will system 40,000 tons of hemp stalk annually for use in a range of merchandise together with textiles, developing resources, fertilizer, and paper. Rising desire for hemp will give a new income stream for farmers and diversify Alberta’s agricultural sector.

Askiy is a partnership among Frog Lake First Nations and Logistik Unicorp. As section of the arrangement, industry gurus and Indigenous communities will work collaboratively to establish on Alberta’s current agricultural strengths. Frog Lake First Nations will engage surrounding communities, organizations, and citizens to construct recognition of new small business opportunities and share info that maximizes financial and community benefits for east-central Alberta.

The Askiy hemp processing plant is expected to be operational in summer time of 2025 and is just one part of a multi-million-dollar improvement that Askiy will guide in the Elk Position spot. As soon as full, this facility will directly make use of additional than 45 persons, with at least a person third of these work opportunities expected to be loaded by Indigenous Peoples. Originally the hemp elements manufactured in this facility will mainly be utilized in textiles.

Offers

“Our governing administration is having action to advance reconciliation and to develop meaningful partnerships that contribute to an economy that works for everybody. By supporting the Askiy Hemp Restricted Partnership hemp processing plant we are assisting to bolster the financial system in the Elk Place region, developing top quality careers for Albertans, contributing to economic reconciliation, and incorporating benefit to Canada’s agriculture sector. This investment will assistance create a stronger and additional sustainable financial long run throughout the Prairies.”
–The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan

“The agriculture sector plays an essential function in the lives of all Albertans. It is a important economic driver in communities across the province and gives high quality careers, specifically in rural Alberta. This investment decision will support farmers in the Elk Place location access new options in agriculture and will make more superior work for location inhabitants, including users of the Frog Lake Initially Nations.”
–The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Progress and Formal Languages 

“As the Chief of Frog Lake Very first Nations, we are dedicated to boosting the life of our individuals. This can only be done by diversifying and by earning investments this kind of as this as it is an crucial element to the nations’ expansion. I want to acquire this time to thank Logistik Unicorp, for approaching Frog Lake Initially Nations to establish a joint undertaking partnership and sort Askiy Hemp LP. This is a excellent chance for financial progress for Frog Lake First Nations. It will offer a significant scale of alternatives in inexperienced vitality, food items and h2o sovereignty, thoroughly clean transportation, carbon sequestration and sustainable initiatives.  It will also supply a number of work chances for our nation’s associates as perfectly.”
–Chief Gregory Desjarlais, Frog Lake To start with Nations

“On behalf of the City of Elk Position, we are fired up that with the guidance and encouragement of our govt, Askiy Hemp LP had decided to invest in our town. Askiy Hemp LP is a shining illustration of the collaboration concerning our Very first Nation friends and the non-public sector to endorse financial and agricultural enhancement inside of our area. Most vital of all, this enterprise also gives employment alternatives for our Frog Lake Initially Nations and citizens, as properly as long term financial advancement possibilities inside our area.”
–Parrish Tung, Mayor, Elk Level

“We are delighted to be section of the transformation of the Canadian industrial landscape by fostering financial improvement for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Doing the job with Frog Lake Very first Nations is a purely natural step in building this new branch of our overall economy, which is in line with Canada’s vision of advancement and representation. This challenge, which is rooted in our environmental values, will provide about the creation of a unique hemp marketplace, in the picture of all Canadians.”
–Louis Bibeau, President and CEO, Logistik Unicorp

Quick facts

• A repayable $5 million federal contribution is getting provided for this challenge via the Neighborhood Economic Growth and Diversification fund, administered in Alberta by PrairiesCan.
• PrairiesCan programs and services assistance businesses, not-for-profits, and communities increase more powerful: its mandate is to help economic development and diversification in the Prairie provinces and advance the pursuits of the location in nationwide economic coverage, courses, and tasks.
• By means of the Neighborhood Financial Growth and Diversification fund, the federal authorities is generating targeted investments in not-for-revenue organizations that aim to deliver sustainable, inclusive expansion and support communities to entirely take part in, and advantage from, economic chances.
• The Framework to Make a Eco-friendly Prairie Economic system is a extensive-phrase determination to function in another way, by way of more robust coordination among federal departments on investments for the Prairies and closer collaboration with Prairie companions on their priorities for a prosperous and sustainable Prairie financial system.
• The Framework is intended to really encourage increased collaboration, leverage additional funding, and appeal to new investments throughout the Prairies.

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For further details: Contacts: Carson Debert, Push Secretary, Office of the Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister dependable for PrairiesCan and CanNor, [email protected] Rohit Sandhu, Communications Supervisor, Prairies Economic Advancement Canada, [email protected]