SASKATOON – The village of Ste. Agathe, Man., could soon be home to one of Western Canada’s most ambitious agricultural business ventures.
Canadian Agra Corporation of Kincardine, Ont., is seeking approval to build a $200 million complex that would start with a canola crushing plant and grain receiving and storage terminal and eventually include an alfalfa dehydration plant, a feed mill and an ethanol plant.
The rural municipality of Ritchot was scheduled to hold a hearing July 25 to consider the firm’s application for rezoning 200 acres of land to develop the agricultural industrial park.
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The company has also filed to the Manitoba government an application for an environmental assessment.
Canadian Agra spokesperson Doug Fletcher said that if all goes smoothly, the company could begin construction on the $50-million canola plant this fall and be buying seed next summer.
The family-owned company won’t be selling shares but would be willing to take on partners with expertise in specific areas of the business. The firm is not asking any level of government for any loans or grants.
“We have the financing in place if we have to go it alone and we will go it alone if necessary,” he said, adding the only thing needed from government is infrastructure and services like roads, water and power.
The canola plant will have the ability to process 630,000 tonnes of seed annually.
