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Garden Village opens new commercial fish processing plant

Photo provided Nipissing MPP Monique Smith News Release *********************** The Nipissing First Nations have established a new federally regulated fish processing facility that will promote local fisheries, create new business opportunities and p

Photo provided

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith
News Release

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The Nipissing First Nations have established a new federally regulated fish processing facility that will promote local fisheries, create new business opportunities and provide jobs.

With $70,000 of support from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), the Nipissing First Nation fish processing facility will aim to provide locally caught whitefish and walleye to restaurants and businesses in the surrounding area. The funding was used to build the 1,296 square foot facility, purchase modern equipment and leave room for potential future expansions.

This investment is part of the Open Ontario plan to develop Northern communities by creating jobs and diversifying local economies to meet new global challenges.

“Fresh water lakes are precious resources that we are privileged to enjoy in Ontario and particularly in our region. This new facility will provide a great resource to our Nipissing First Nation and help to manage the fish harvest of Lake Nipissing to ensure our lake remains a vibrant and sustainable ecosystem for future generations to enjoy,” said Monique Smith, MPP for Nipissing.

“Creating local economies that can support growth is important for prosperity in the North and investing in this project is just one way the McGuinty government is helping strengthen the foundations of our communities,” said Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry and Chair of the NOHFC.

“All of the fish processed will have been sustainably harvested with the environment in mind – that’s our main goal – fish now and fish for the future,” said Nipissing First Nation Chief Marianna Couchie.

QUICK FACTS

• The NOHFC is providing $70,000 to this project under its Infrastructure and Community Development Program.

• The new facility is going to make fish harvest data easier to collect by working in conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources.

• Approximately 37,000 pounds or 80 per cent of the Nipissing First Nations annual catch will be processed at this facility within five years.

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