In an effort to eliminate the controversy over where intensive livestock operations can be built, the Alberta government has introduced a bill that takes the decision away from local residents.
Instead of local municipalities deciding if a large hog barn, feedlot or poultry operation should be built in a community, the final decision will rest with a provincial government board, said Albert Klapstein, the MLA who introduced Bill 28.
“It will make the decision, one that’s based on science, and will be more of an objective decision-making process,” he said.
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“There will be consistency in the decisions right across the province.”
He said the current patchwork of regulations makes it difficult for livestock operators to build or expand.
The provincial government has also announced it will start referring to intensive livestock operations as confined feeding operations, or CFOs, which it feels is more inclusive.
The Natural Resources Conservation Board, a board that now looks after forestry projects, will be charged with deciding if an intensive operation should be built.
“If the province is going to be responsible for setting the standards, doing the enforcement, that same body should be making the decision if that site is an acceptable site,” Klapstein said.
Jack Hayden, president of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, said municipalities don’t want the provincial government to take the approval process away from them.
“It’s always been considered the best place to make a decision on how development should take place is at the local level,” Hayden said.
“Those are the people that have to live with the consequences.”
The municipalities have been asked to submit a list of areas where they don’t want to see CFOs developed.
Hayden said the new regulations, which are set to take effect Jan. 1 once the bill is passed during the legislature’s fall session, will not make it easier for municipalities.
Only neighbouring farms and the municipality will be allowed to give reasons why they’re opposed or have concerns about the development. He foresees the municipality being asked by other residents to bring their views forward.
“In the end, it will not mean less work for municipalities. We’ll also be left with the fallout from the operation.”
Lana Love, who helped organize opposition to Taiwan Sugar’s proposed 7,200-sow hog barn near Hardisty, said the new bill will kill a community’ ability to oppose development.
“They’ve really stripped us of everything,” she said.
“They’ve taken our control away. If they want to put one in our backyard, they can do it.”
The fight over Taiwan Sugar’s proposed project in Hardisty will end in November when the Alberta Court of Appeal makes a final decision.
Love worries that if Taiwan Sugar loses the appeal, it will be able to reapply to the Natural Resources Conservation Board on Jan. 1, which could approve the barn.
Albert Kamps, a Lacombe dairy farmer and member of the Lacombe County Partners in Agriculture, said he looks forward to the new legislation.
Kamps said expansion plans were part of his decision to build a 140-head dairy barn 10 years ago. However, he said, the local county has since changed its bylaws and he can no longer expand.
“There was no consistency across the province.”
He thinks the new bill will give producers confidence to invest in livestock operations.
“This new legislation is necessary to give existing family farms the opportunity to diversify their income by adding or expanding livestock operations.”
Klapstein said he believes there are people across the province who have postponed expansion plans until the new livestock-friendly legislation is in place.
“I suspect people that are expecting a change in the rules are probably going to wait until the new rules are in place before going through a lot of work or effort in dealing with their application.”
Under the proposed bill, the Farmers’ Advocate office will handle noise or odour complaints by businesses, acreages owners and other farmers.
Alberta Liberal leader Ken Nicol said by doing this, the government is asking the office to no longer be an advocate for farmers.
“Now a business who wants to complain about CFOs, they’re going to go to the Farmers’ Advocate office,” Nicol said.
“On one issue the Farmers’ Advocate is against the farmer. On another issue they’re for the farmer.”
