The Manitoba hog industry lacks friends in high political places.
Not only has the provincial government refused to give ground on its moratorium on hog barns since its controversial announcement three weeks ago, but the provincial opposition leader is backing most of the government’s policy.
“I think the review is a good idea. It’s overdue and we support it,” said Progressive Conservative party leader Hugh McFadyen.
Not only do the PCs support a review of the industry by the Clean Environment Commission, but also the surprise moratorium on new hog barn applications.
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The Manitoba Pork Council has not complained about the review or tough new environmental regulations new hog barns will have to meet, but has expressed resentment that the hog industry is branded as a water pollution problem.
While the government will not allow new hog barn projects, it has recently been allowing new cottage lots with septic fields and is not restricting the establishment of other water-intensive, phosphorus-rich industries such as cattle feedlots, ethanol or biodiesel plants.
Conservation minister Stan Struthers said the hog industry shouldn’t be treated equally because it has experienced more economic growth than other provincial industries.
“It is part of the problem and we do need to understand what the impact is of this kind of growth in the hog industry,” said Struthers. “I believe we really need to understand that before we move forward any further.”
McFadyen supports the hog industry expansion lockdown, but said the government should not have imposed a moratorium without providing a date when it would end.
“To leave it as an open-ended moratorium leaves a signal to people who are looking at investing to go elsewhere. Saskatchewan is competing aggressively for those sorts of investments,” said McFadyen.
“I would rather have seen this as a time-limited moratorium.”
But Struthers said he doesn’t want time pressure put on the environment commission and isn’t concerned about clearing up the uncertainty over the hog industry any time soon.
“I want them to be comfortable in knowing that they can take the time they need to be thorough, and I want something that’s thorough and well thought out – a good analysis and some recommendations so that we can move forward in a sustainable way.”
McFadyen said “there are businesses and investors planning economic expansion in Manitoba who need certainty. The biggest killer of investment is uncertainty.”
