The federal government is making $3.25 million available over two years to the co-operatives sector to help it create biofuel-producing co-ops.
The May 17 announcement of new funds for the Agriculture Co-operative Development Initiative was the first public appearance by Quebec MP and secretary of state (agriculture) Christian Paradis after the junior cabinet minister was given responsibility for rural and co-op affairs.
The Canadian Co-operative Association applauded the government announcement.
The CCA said this will allow the relaunch in the autumn of a pilot project offering advisory services for co-operators that ended in March. During its seven months of operation, the pilot project spent $500,000 on 27 projects that taught co-op startups how to organize equity drives and other co-operative tricks of the trade.
