PM Justin Trudeau announces 252 million Canadian dollars emergency aid

Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced 252 million Canadian dollars (US $179 million) to the agri-food sector to help protect farmers and food processors against the COVID-19 pandemic. The money can be used to buy personal protective equipment for workers, adapt to health protocols and support other social distancing measures, Trudeau said at his press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Trudeau's announcement came as Canadian farmers begin the spring planting season, warning that producers could start culling their animals to cope with reduced capacity at some of the country's largest meat processing plants, which have been especially hard hit by the pandemic. Of the 252 million Canadian dollars, 77 million is earmarked to help food processors buy protective equipment for workers and expand domestic processing capacity of food; 125 million is meant to help cattle and hog producers because of their costs increase, and 50 million will go for a food surplus purchasing program to compensate food producers. (IANS) 

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