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By Jaryn Vecchio

Federal Funding

Five Sask. food security projects getting $1.1M in funding from feds

Dec 16, 2022 | 1:46 PM

The federal government is funding five projects in Saskatchewan that are strengthening food security in Indigenous, remote, and northern communities.

Marie-Claude Bibeau, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced on Friday that around $1.2 million is being allocated through the fourth phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF).

“Indigenous, remote, and Northern communities are particularly vulnerable because of the higher cost of living and other geographic, social, and economic factors,” said Bibeau. “With these challenges, it is more important than ever to support food systems in these communities in the long term.”

Nipawin’s Salvation Army is getting more than $125,000 for an electric oven and a food truck so they can cook meals and deliver them to homeless people and first responders at emergency events.

The Flying Dust First Nation, near Meadow Lake, is receiving over $390,000 for greenhouses and an industrial freeze dryer.

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Peepeekisis Cree Nation, near the Town of Balcarres, will be purchasing a greenhouse and irrigation system, a tractor with attachments, a refrigerated trailer, and food processing equipment thanks to approximately $112,000 in funding.

The Métis Nation of Saskatchewan will be using around $366,000 on chest freezers, meat processing equipment, a smokehouse, tractor and related equipment, fruit trees, a trailer, fencing, and water troughs.

Agency Chiefs Tribal Council in Spiritwood is getting nearly $190,000 to purchase compost drums, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, a reefer container, and kitchen processing equipment.

A total of 79 projects across the country are getting funding, up to $19.5 million, through the fourth phase of LFIF. Details on 19 of them haven’t been released at this time as the groups receiving the funds haven’t signed contribution agreements.

Out of the 60 officially approved, six are in Manitoba and 12 are in Alberta. Fifty-six of the projects are also Indigenous-led, making up over $15 million of the funding.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow