For some Manitoba cattle producers, the question of who should control land-use planning comes down to choosing between the best of two evils.
There are those who think municipalities are swayed too much by local politics and emotion when deciding where to allow intensive livestock operations.
Others argue against putting the control in the hands of the province, fearing the bureaucrats would fail to recognize local issues and concerns.
Both sides of the debate were mulled during the recent annual meeting of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association in Brandon.
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Martin Unrau of MacGregor, Man., said he prefers to see local officials have the final say on land-use decisions. Rural municipalities hold elections every four years, which helps to keep councillors and reeves accountable for their actions, he said.
“We can get rid of municipal officials if we want, but it’s harder to get rid of (provincial) bureaucrats.”
Al Manshreck of Deloraine, Man., pressed in the opposite direction. His concern is with rural municipalities that stifle the development or expansion of intensive livestock operations with a baffling assortment of regulations. He thinks the rules for development need to be consistent across the province.
“Unless you know what the rules of the game are, it’s pretty tough to play by those rules. We’re seeing too much small politics being played in the municipalities.”
Producer Bob Brigden said both approaches make him nervous, but the concerns he voiced were aimed mainly at local decision making. When land-use decisions are being made at the local level, “fanatics” can take over the agenda, he said. Like Manshreck, he wants the rules for siting hog barns to be the same throughout Manitoba.
Stu Briese, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, cautioned against giving away local control. He said Alberta went in that direction not long ago and the results were “disastrous.”
The majority of rural municipalities want to see the livestock industry develop, said Briese. Those ventures provide economic development.
“We believe land-use planning should stay at the local level.”
There was good reason for producers to debate the issue in earnest. Changes to how land-use planning is regulated in Manitoba could be imminent.
A review of Manitoba’s land-use planning law began a year ago.
The province has been gathering public input in preparation to amend the law.
Proposed changes might be revealed to the public later this year for more input before finalizing legislation.
