The Prince Edward Island Hog Commodity Board and PEI Quality Swine Inc. are expanding their breeding operations with the construction of new facilities in Ocean View.
"This project will provide an essential addition to the swine industry on Prince Edward Island," said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Labour, on behalf of the Honourable Fred J. Mifflin, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for ACOA. "The construction and operation of this state-of-the-art facility is an investment in the future of the industry both in terms of operations on the Island and in terms of being competitive in the export market."
The $1.5 million project has permitted the building of a new facility for the production of minimal disease swine breeding stock and an artificial insemination station certified for export. In addition to jobs created during facility construction, five new permanent full-time jobs have been created.
"The swine industry is expanding and by supporting this unique initiative early in the game Prince Edward Island is gaining a competitive edge in this quickly growing market," said the Honourable Wes MacAleer, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. "The hog export industry is a new realm for Prince Edward Island which offers great potential for economic growth and development in this province."
PEI Quality Swine's existing facility in Grandview is completely full and is unable to meet current demand. The new facility in Ocean View will enable the PEI swine industry to compete in the growing domestic and export markets for breeding hogs and genetic material. It will also ensure the health and protection of the herd by having it located in two separate facilities. In 1996, the economic benefits for PEI were estimated at $93 million with approximately 1,200 full-time jobs.
To assist in this project, Enterprise PEI has invested $500,000, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has provided a $350,000 loan under the Business Development Program.
The Prince Edward Island Quality Swine program was established in 1976 by the PEI Hog Commodity Marketing Board and the PEI Department of Agriculture to develop a certified minimal disease herd health program. PEI Quality Swine is an independent operation which has received no government funding for the past ten years.