Hog report released

CCPA-MB publishes report of Brandon citizens' hearings into hog production and the environment
May 23, 2000

The long-awaited report into the expansion of hog production in Manitoba, based on the findings of last fall's citizens' hearings in Brandon, will be released Thursday by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Manitoba.

The report is based on information presented at the Citizens' Hearing on Hog Production and the Environment, held in October 1999 in Brandon. Spear-headed by the Westman Community Action Coalition and Sierra Club Prairie Chapter, the hearing was chaired by Winnipeg lawyer Yude Henteleff, and the commission consisted of six people: Christine Common-Singh (Manitoba Environmental Council, Manitoba Roundtable on Sustainable Development); Celia Guilford (farmer, Clearwater, MB); Roderick MacDonald (lawyer, Radville, SK); Bill Turnock (Manitoba Environmental Council, retired research scientist, Agriculture Canada); John Welsted (Professor of Geography, Brandon University); and Kay Wotton (former Regional Medical Officer of Health, Parklands Region, BC).

The hearings arose out of a dissatisfaction felt by some citizens about the decision by the Manitoba government to grant a license to Maple Leaf Meats for a hog processing plant in Brandon (which opened in 1999) without convening Clean Environment Commission hearings. In total 29 presentations were made by a wide range of groups and individuals.

The report, entitled "Large-Scale Hog Production and Processing: Concerns for Manitobans," was prepared by the five Manitoba and Saskatchewan based commissioners. It considers the social, environmental, economic and public health impacts of large-scale hog production. Plan to attend the media conference.

Brandon Media Conference
Date: Thursday, May 25
Time: 12:00 (noon)
Location: MGEU Building, 930 Lorne Avenue, Brandon, Manitoba

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