November 8, 2006
Provincial Water Plan Referred To CEC For Public Input And Review
– – –Temporary Pause on New or Expanded Hog Barns in Place Until Review Complete: Struthers
Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today that Manitoba’s water protection plan will be referred to the Clean Environment Commission (CEC) for a full, independent and public review in order to provide Manitobans an opportunity for input into steps the province is proposing to protect rivers, streams and lakes.
“We believe long-term action is necessary to reverse long-term damage to our waterways,” said Struthers. “However, any plan must maintain public confidence and credibility, and that is why the plan is being referred to the independent CEC to ensure that what we’re doing is sustainable over the long term.
“Until the CEC has completed its review, a temporary pause will be in place on new or expanded barns. We need to know from the CEC and Manitobans themselves that what we’re proposing adequately addresses the sustainability of the industry over the long term.”
To this end, the CEC will be asked to:
· review the current environmental-protection measures now in place relating to hog production in Manitoba in order to determine their effectiveness for the purpose of managing hog production in an environmentally-sustainable manner,
· take into account the efforts underway in other jurisdictions to manage hog production in a sustainable manner,
· consider various options and make recommendations in a report to the minister on any improvements that may be necessary to provide for the environmental sustainability of hog production in Manitoba, and
· conduct a review of the contents of the report prepared by Manitoba Conservation entitled An Examination of the Environmental Sustainability of the Hog Industry in Manitoba.
Hog barns that use emerging technology such as anaerobic digesters for manure will be exempted from the pause.
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