RED DEER – Bitter differences within rural communities over intensive livestock farms have reduced the number of approvals granted to new or expanding operations.
Jack Hayden, president of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, said it’s the province’s responsibility to change that by restoring public confidence in the environmental safety of these operations.
“There is a clear and pressing need for some action now,” he said at the recent Wild Rose Agriculture Producers meeting in Red Deer.
“We need to increase the public confidence in the intensive livestock industry and the ability of the government decision-making process to protect health and the environment.”
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The municipalities association passed a resolution last fall calling for the province to take responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of regulations that address environmental, public health and nuisance concerns. Land-use decisions and appeals should be left to the municipalities, which understand local conditions and geography. The resolution was presented to agriculture minister Ty Lund.
Rural municipalities often don’t have technical experts to make decisions on engineering requirements and scientific standards.
As a result, many municipalities have decided not to grant approval for new or expanding farms because of growing concern over public health and environmental pollution.
“The Walkerton, (Ont.,) tragedy that took place this past spring has set the concern level up several more notches,” Hayden said.
“Municipalities are facing ever growing public pressure to deny development. There will be municipal councilors who will not be returned over the issue.”
Some will resign and others will be defeated over this issue in municipal elections set for this fall, he said.
