DECEMBER 14, 2000
FACTORY HOG FARMS IN SASK. TO IMPACT MANITOBA WATER QUALITY:
NFU CALLS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
SWAN RIVER, Man.--NFU Region 5 Coordinator, Kenneth Sigurdson, in a letter to Premier Gary Doer and Agriculture Minister Rosann Wowchuk, today requested that the Manitoba Government immediately take steps to protect Manitoba from the impacts of massive hog developments in north-eastern Saskatchewan.
Sigurdson said in his letter that Big Sky Pork has numerous developments that will impact Manitoba's waters. The Red Deer River, the Swan River, and the Assiniboine River are all in the drainage systems of these projects. These rivers all flow into Manitoba Lakes such as Lake Winnipegosis and many farms and towns depend on these rivers for their water supply. Sigurdson noted that Big Sky Pork has a committee in the RM of Livingston attempting to promote hog barns. The sewage from these operations will be spread onto lands that drain into the Swan River. We don't need another Walkerton in Manitoba or any more boil-water orders.
"Manitoba needs to act quickly as many of these projects are in the planning phase," Sigurdson said. In their letter, the NFU and Hog Watch Manitoba demanded that the province institute a three-point program. First, Manitoba needs to call on the Saskatchewan Government to halt these projects until their impacts can be properly assessed. We are also requesting that the Manitoba Government and Premier Doer call on the Federal Government to conduct a Federal Environmental Assessment under the Environment Act. In addition, we want the Manitoba Government to immediately start baseline monitoring of waters flowing into Manitoba from Saskatchewan.
"We know Premier Doer was instrumental in stopping U.S. water from the Garrison Diversion and Devils Lake from entering Manitoba," Sigurdson stated. "Manitoba needs to now act to prevent polluted water from Saskatchewan entering Manitoba".
Sigurdson said that he and local farmers last week toured the proposed site of two of the barns in the RM of Porcupine Plain. "These barns are in a flood plain and sewage from these operations will be spread onto land that drains directly into the Red Deer River," said Sigurdson.
"We ask that Premier Doer and the Manitoba Government immediately do all in its power to see that a thorough and comprehensive Federal Environmental Assessment of these projects takes place," Sigurdson concluded.
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For more information, contact:
Ken Sigurdson, Swan River (204) 734-3644
Joe Homenuk, Porcupine Plain (306) 278-3361