Processor speaks out on hurt from Bill 46 in Manitoba

A Maple Leaf spokesman says the Lake Winnipeg Act raise significant concerns over the ability of Manitoba's pork producers to reinvest in their production facilities and responsibly expand their production base.
Jason Manness, the director of procurement for western Canada with Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, says the company would like to be brought to the table with industry to work through issues of concern.
"Today we continue to operate our facility at Brandon at full double shift and that's been the case through much of 2011," says Manness. "We do have significant concerns about producers both reinvesting in their production facilities and growing their production base responsibly as a result of Bill 46."
He says much of the technology the government has proposed to handle the nutrient safely is unproven with a high initial capital cost which will discourage producers from this re-investment. "Maple Leaf has made a significant investment in Manitoba on the assumption and the need to have sustainable and adequate hog supply for our Brandon facility for the long term," says Manness. "While we support the government's intent on this legislation we must be brought to the table along with industry to work through the issues and ensure the correct regulations and practical solutions will be put in place by government so producers can re-invest and have the opportunity to build new barns in a sustainable manner."
Manness says U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling has dramatically reduced Canadian isowean and feeder pigs exports south emptying many Canadian sow barns.
While Maple Leaf continues to process at capacity, Bill 46 has taken a pool of hogs out of the industry his company would have sourced from time to time.
The Economic Development Officer with the Town of Neepawa is calling for a responsible reasoned approach to addressing water quality concerns in Lake Winnipeg. Rick Donaldson says the Hylife Foods plant will employ about 800 people by the end of 2012.
"Those 800 people equate into roughly, when you include families and that, another thousand in population," says Donaldson. "The payroll for 800 people, while it doesn't all stay in Neepawa, it stays in the region for the most part, so it's a real money motor and an economic motor for the town and the surrounding areas."
Most of the pork processing work-force is new Canadians and they bring a wide diversity of skills and interests and they all shop locally.
Donaldson says, if Hylife isn't able to access adequate hog supplies, it will impact its ability to serve world markets and finance expansion.
He suggests the province needs to slow things down and provide a forum that allows the entire pork distribution channel from the producer to the consumer to be involved in coming up with solutions. •
— By Harry Siemens