Manitobans, in country and city alike, have had enough of intensive, corporate hog production and its nuisance wastes. They are particularly incensed by their governments's involvement in the coporatization of farming and food production.

In reponse to the new NDP government's decision to ratify and adopt as its own that most central element of the previous government's economic developement strategy--intensive, industrial scale hog production--a new coalition was formed in 1999.

Hogwatch Manitoba unites social and environmental groups, farmers, friends of animals, social justice advocates, trade unionists and scientists.

It is a coalition of local and national organizations whose goal is to give the democratic process back to the citizens of Manitoba.

Working with the NDP, US based Smithfield Foods Inc, the largest pork producer and processor in the world, planned to expand their facility in Winnipeg. The deal would have cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

Also not factored into this deal, were the hidden costs to taxpayers, which are associated with the rapid expansion of the hog industry in Manitoba. These costs (or externalities) will burden Manitobans for decades to come

However, Smithfield cancelled their plans to build a new slaughterhouse in Winnipeg and Maple Leaf Pork (who owns the plant in Brandon) ended up purchasing 2 assets of Smithfield/JM Schneider. A specialty cut plant and smaller older slaughterhouse both in Wpg.

Maple Leaf currently (2002) runs one shift in the plant at Brandon which kills 2.25 million hogs a year. They want to run a second shift (or kill 4.5 million a year) in the near future)..