Welcoming Minister Joly to the Peterborough Riding

Minister Joly came to Peterborough to hear directly from our local business community and for an important food security announcement

I was thrilled to welcome Minister Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry, to the riding of Peterborough for a great afternoon focused on supporting Canadian innovation, strengthening our local economy and hearing directly from the people who are building and growing businesses in our community.

Investing in Canadian Food Innovation

Our first stop was at the Trent University Farm Research Centre, where Minister Joly announced a $50 million federal investment in the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) through the Strategic Response Fund and Canada’s National Food Security Strategy.

This new investment will help more food and beverage processors, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, adopt technologies including automation, artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing. The investment is expected to support more than 200 SMEs, create approximately 300 new jobs and help strengthen Canada's domestic food-processing capacity.

This is about producing more here at home, supporting good Canadian jobs and building a stronger, more resilient and affordable food system for families across the country.

A strong food system starts right here on our farms and in communities like Peterborough. The Trent University Farm Research Centre is helping advance agricultural research and innovation, while CFIN helps food and beverage companies access the expertise, partners and technologies they need to innovate and grow.

Hearing from Local Businesses

Our second stop was focused on something equally important: listening.

Minister Joly joined local business leaders to hear directly about the opportunities they see, as well as some of the challenges they are facing. These conversations are incredibly valuable. Whether it is navigating tariffs, strengthening Canadian supply chains, dealing with rising costs or ensuring federal programs and procurement policies work for businesses on the ground, local voices need to be part of the conversation.

A huge thank you to the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce for helping bring our local business community together and hosting such an important conversation.

Peterborough is home to incredible entrepreneurs, manufacturers and small businesses that work hard every day, create good jobs and contribute so much to our community. Having Minister Mélanie Joly here to hear their experiences firsthand was an important opportunity to bring those local perspectives directly to the federal level.

It was a fantastic day showcasing our community, and I am grateful to Minister Joly for taking the time to visit Peterborough, make this important investment and, most importantly, listen to the people who call our community home.