Prince Edward Island agricultural operations which were impacted by Hurricane Fiona can now apply for financial support to cover the costs of restoring and rebuilding infrastructure, a Nov. 20 news release said.
“As we all know, Hurricane Fiona was the worst storm to ever hit our region, and adversely impacted our local agriculture industry. Damage from the high winds and rain significantly impacted infrastructure and in some cases continues to hinder agricultural operations across the province,” Bloyce Thompson, P.E.I. deputy premier and minister of agriculture, said in the release.
The P.E.I. Agriculture Fiona Recovery Fund (PEIAgFRF) is open to agricultural operations who experienced significant infrastructure damage on insured assets from Hurricane Fiona and weren’t able to fully rebuild or replace infrastructure through disaster relief supports. The release noted the funding is available through an $8.5 million investment from the federal government through the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency and will be administered by the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture.
It will provide funding to those in the agriculture industry looking to re-establish or maintain the viability of P.E.I. agricultural industry, as well as to those looking to repair/rebuild/restore infrastructure and farm equipment to their regular capabilities pre-Fiona, the release said.
“Prince Edward Island’s agriculture and agri-food sector is the backbone of our local economy, and was severely affected by the devastation of Hurricane Fiona. We are proud to support the recovery of our Island farmers which will, in turn, strengthen and benefit our communities across the province,” Lawrence MacAulay, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, said in the release.
The release noted farms and agricultural operations must have an immediate need, quantifiable loss or damage as a result of Hurricane Fiona to qualify. They must also have exhausted all other sources of financial assistance.
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