Farmscape for December 11, 2006  (Episode 2261)

Manitoba Conservation says a planned Clean Environment Commission review of both the provincial swine industry and pending water protection legislation will give the public the opportunity to address their concerns related to water quality.

In an effort to better protect Manitoba's lakes, rivers and streams the provincial government has decided to freeze the construction of new or expanded hog barns while the Clean Environment Commission reviews proposed water protection legislation and the sustainability of the swine industry.

Conservation Minister Stan Struthers says the Clean Environment Commission is a good credible third party and he has every confidence in its ability to conduct a fair and impartial review.

Clip-Stan Struthers-Manitoba Conservation Minister

We think this is an opportunity for the people who participate in the hog industry to step forward and tell their story.

We want to be able to be confident as we move forward.

That is why we've asked for a review by the clean environment commission.

That is why we've put in place some of the strictest phosphorus regulations in North America.

That's why we've announced that we will temporarily pause accepting permits coming forward.

We want to be thorough in this process.

We want it to be fair and we want it to be thorough.

This will be an opportunity for all Manitobans to step forward and talk about water protection, talk about practices that protect water.

I've lived in rural Canada just about all my life.

I know there are good practices out there that farmers have employed.

I don't want a few farmers who break rules to be considered the norm when it comes to our Manitoba farmer.

While province has not set any deadlines for completion of the review, the CEC has pledged to be as expedient as possible but as thorough as necessary.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council