Mr. Chair, there is also an initiative in my own riding of Malpeque for all of Atlantic Canada. A new slaughter plant has been built on the co-op principle. To ensure supply to that particular plant should the border eventually open, each producer has shares by way of purchasing a hook. In that way the plant is basically assured that it will be supplied with product.
That particular operation is also looking at being the cutting edge of traceability to try to establish, right from the hoof to the plate, where the animal came from, what its genetics were and what farm it may have come from, which ties in to food safety and food quality. It also ties into niche markets as mentioned by the hon. member.
The details of that program are still being worked on but it is basically a loan loss reserve program which the Government of Canada would, to a great extent, backstop with financial institutions those businesses, those entrepreneurs and those individuals who are willing to take the risk in terms of increasing slaughter capacity. That is a fairly good move on the government's part.