The Federal Government is stepping up to help the agri-food sector to the tune of $252-million.
Speaking from Ottawa on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says $77-million of that will go to measures to keep workers in food processing safe with protective equipment and by supporting physical distancing in workplaces.
Another $200 million is being added to a credit line program for dairy producers, who also have more product than can be consumed right now.
According to Trudeau, meat-packing plants, in particular, have also seen large outbreaks of the virus that causes COVID-19.
The package includes money for beef and pork producers holding animals they can't sell and a $50-million fund to buy food that spoils and send it to groups such as food banks.
Trudeau says there isn't the capacity to redistribute milk and cheese to places in need at the moment.
— With files from The Canadian Press