Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says the government will provide up to $16.7 million to help western ranchers caught in the bovine TB quarantine.
READ MORE: 10,000 cattle to be killed after bovine tuberculosis outbreak
MacAulay told the House of Commons the money is meant to help cover the extra costs they are facing because of the quarantine, which prevents them from selling their stock.
He says the aid will help with feed for the animals, transportation, cleaning and disinfection as well as interest costs on loans.
Watch below: It’s a disease that is rare and not often found in Canadian cattle, but is now having paralyzing effects across the prairies after bovine tuberculosis was reported in a single cow from Alberta in late September. Meaghan Craig reports.
READ MORE: Bovine tuberculosis case prompts farmers to call for better emergency mechanism
Ranches in Alberta and Saskatchewan have been caught by the quarantine, which began after American agriculture officials notified the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that tuberculosis had been detected in a cow from Alberta when it was slaughtered in the U.S.
Ranchers have been pleading for government help ever since.
READ MORE: Alberta farmers suffering bovine TB losses can get ‘fair market value’ for cattle: CFIA
MacAulay says governments will work with the industry and producers to ensure that the assistance meets the needs and that the money flows simply and quickly.
Watch below from Nov. 1: A quarantine on some south eastern cattle operations remains in effect after a cow from the area tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. The entire herd will be destroyed, along with other herds in the area. Quinn Campbell spoke to the owner of the affected cow, and he said the ordeal has been devastating.
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