Abattoir on last legs

Heather Ogilvie
Special to Record

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.
Ken McKinnon, president of the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association, noted, “It’s our last kick at an abattoir and I hope we come away united,” he stressed.
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.
“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.
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.”
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.
“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.
Econ. Dev. Officer Geoff Gillon, of RRFDC, said, “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.
Gillon next highlighted the estimated cost of the abattoir:
Estimates are: Building—$1,100,000, Equipment—$300,00, Utilities—$250,000, Land—$60,000, and Miscellaneous—$90,000 for a 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.
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.”
Pledge forms were available at the end of the meeting for those to sign who want to support the abattoir.
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.