WINNIPEG – Money announced to dispose of specified risk material (SRM) sugar-coated the beginning of the enhanced feed ban and created an optimistic atmosphere in the muddy auction market yard.
“Producers want this issue dealt with,” said Treasury Board minister Vic Toews, , announcing $17.2 in federal-provincial funding to encourage entrepreneurs and others to find ways to get rid of specified risk materials.
“We’re still dealing with the effects of BSE and I don’t think you’re going to see producers fighting the fact that this regulation is needed. What is the best, most effective way of doing it?”
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Manitoba Cattle Producers Association president Martin Unrau was pleased with the announcement.
“Seventeen point two million bucks is a lot of money. I think we can get something done if we get it right,” he said after the announcement to reporters.
“Hopefully it will be enough to spur on some entrepreneurs to get some of these incinerators going so we can get rid of the SRMs in the right manner.”
The governments appear to hope that a regional system of incinerators can be established to destroy the brains, spinal cords and other materials considered possibly dangerous.
Presently those materials are being dumped in landfills across the province.
The money, $10.3 million from the federal government and $6.9 million from the province, will help businesses, municipalities and others develop business plans and begin work for incinerators and other SRM consumers.
Manitoba agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk said she expected someone to propose using the SRMs in biofuel production.
The money comes from a federal-provincial agreement to fund SRM disposal development in a 60-40 split. Altogether the federal government is dedicating $80 million to the nationwide effort.
Toews said each province can develop variations that fit in with its own needs, so long as SRM elimination is achieved.
