The Manitoba government announced plans for these offices in January
Producers in Manitoba now have two additional Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) offices to conduct business at.
On Sept. 19, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced the opening of two new locations in Virden and Shoal Lake.
The Virden office is at Box 459, 297-7th Avenue South. The Shoal Lake office’s address is Box 130, 312 Elm Street, MASC’s website says.
These offices will serve upwards of 700 farmers and agribusinesses in the region.
Four full-time employees and a team of insurance adjusters will work in each location.
Connor McDowell/Brandon Sun photo.
“Our government is committed to ensuring Westman farmers have the tools and support they need to success after the previous government closed (21 of) these offices,” the minister said in a statement. “By opening new MASC offices in Virden and Shoal Lake, we are making it easier for producers to access programs and services closer to home, where they are needed most.”
This follows through on an announcement he and Premier Wab Kinew made in January regarding these locations.
At the time, Minister Kostyshyn and Premier Kinew said choosing Virden and Shoal Lake came after some research, using a one-hour drive as a barometer.
These two facilities mean about 94 per cent of MASC clients are within 60 minutes of a MASC office.
A community organization expressed its support for the new offices.
The Association of Manitoba Municipalities “welcomes the reopening of two (MASC) offices in Town of Virden and Shoal Lake (Yellowhead Municipality),” the organization said on X.
In total MASC has 12 offices across Manitoba.