April 26, 2006
Residents not hog wild about new facility
WINNIPEG
Provincial Liberals want a $200-million hog plant proposed for a Winnipeg neighbourhood to be built outside city limits away from residential areas.
Delegates took a stand on the issue at the party’s annual general meeting by approving a policy resolution to support a rural location for the plant currently planned for St. Boniface.
Businesses and residents near the OlyWest consortium’s proposed $200-million facility are opposed to the development. They have said they fear foul odours, pollution and traffic jams.
Company officials have chalked it up to fear-mongering.
They say odour won’t be an issue and the plant will meet environmental standards.
Part of the decision to locate within city limits was to make it convenient for workers to commute to the plant, said OlyWest spokesman Guy Baudry.
Liberal candidate David Love said the party risks losing votes in the next provincial election if it supports a location within city limits.
But one delegate suggested there’s a risk of losing the slaughterhouse altogether if too much fuss is raised.
Stephen Montague from Brandon said it should be built “as long as the precautions are taken and the environmental concerns are addressed.
“The more red tape you throw in front of this . . . they’re just going to (move it elsewhere).’’
About eight million hogs come to market in Manitoba every year, which means the massive new processor should have no problem finding enough animals to butcher.
But critics say it could have to look harder for workers due to a labour shortage caused by low unemployment in Manitoba and an outflow of workers to the red-hot oilsands of Alberta.
The most recent Statistics Canada survey has unemployment sitting at five per cent in Manitoba in March.
The OlyWest consortium, made up of hog growers and processors from Quebec, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, says it will start looking to fill 1,100 positions for the plant when and if the province issues an environmental licence.
“Winnipeg is also further from Alberta, which makes it more attractive. In Saskatoon, the lure of the oilsands is (greater).’’
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