| Take Action Checklist
for Hog Barn Opposition |
| SUGGESTIONS
FOR RESIDENTS
PREPARING OPPOSITION TO A HOG BARN APPLICATION 1) Obtain municipal by-laws and development plan if applicable, understand what they mean and ask for help interpreting if not clear. Obtain the proposal and Technical Review Report and compare it to provincial guidelines and Manure Regulation 42/98. Scrutinize these documents carefully for contradictions or errors. Learn the difference between policy and statute. Check previous council minutes for meetings with proponents. 2) Obtain Farm Practices Guidelines for Hogs at www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/pork/swine/ or phone nearest MB regional agricultural office. 3) Obtain Soils and Terrain Map for your municipality (U of M, Land Resource Unit 474-6119) 4) Identify any weak points in the proposal (eg. proximity to a stream; type of soil; location for manure spreading - close to any water body; potential for flooding, run-off in spring; potential for pollution of drinking water in wells of residents nearby). Take water quality tests for your wells in the vicinity of the proposed sites. (If you know of anyone who currently lives beside a factory farm, ask for their water quality results) Obtain detailed information on groundwater aquifer from Manitoba Conservation (Water Resources Branch) ie, capacity, direction of flow, pollution zones. 5) Determine the legal format for wording of a petition in your municipality (sample enclosed). (Municipal Act 153-159) 6) Contact property owners who might be affected. Encourage people to sign the petition and a form letter to be sent to individual councilors as well as phoning them. Cover a minimum of three miles radius from the proposed barn site, depending on the impact of rivers and streams in the area. 7) Show up at council meetings as a group (encourage as many people to attend as possible). Prepare a written presentation. Take emotions and personal attacks out of the presentation. If necessary, question council members on conflict of interest. 8) Request that council show why the hog barn should be approved. What is the benefit to the community? What will be the costs? (ie, road damage) What are the returns from taxes? Ask for a financial plan. Is there an insurance policy? Will an environmental bond be performed? Who is responsible for environmental liability? 9)
Lay the foundation for your case against the barn:
10) Find out if an application has been submitted by the proponent to Manitoba Conservation for a construction permit. If the site is unsuitable for construction of an earthen manure storage, prepare in advance to appeal to the Minister of Conservation the issuing of a permit. 11) Ask for a referendum. 12)
Don't be afraid to ask for help from Hog Watch Manitoba. We can help
organize a town hall meeting, develop and send a press release and provide
media contacts. |
| Demand
a Moratorium on Hog Barn expansion What can you do to protect your quality of life? Demand a moratorium on hog industry expansion and full environmental hearings into hog industry expansion including any new factory farms—not just the informal and legally non-binding public consultations (see below) scheduled for this summer. Also call for a moratorium on the cruel practice of sow crating. Make your voice heard! Contact Premier Doer and others in government using the information in the sidebar. go to top |
| Send a message to the Provincial Premier HERE IS A SAMPLE OF THE KIND OF MESSAGE YOU MAY WISH TO SEND TO PREMIER DOER OR SOME OF THE OTHER CONTACTS PROVIDED BELOW. As
a Citizen of Manitoba, I care deeply about the things in life that really
matter, such as clean air, water and land, the wellbeing of my community
and the kind of province we are leaving to our grandchildren. Premier
of Manitoba |
| The
Honourable GARY DOER Premier of Manitoba Room 204 Legislative Building 450 Broadway Winnipeg MB R3C 0V8 premier@leg.gov.mb.ca Phone (204) 945-3714 or -3715 Fax (204) 949-1484 |
The
Honourable OSCAR LATHLIN Minister of Conservation Room 333 Legislative Building 450 Broadway Winnipeg MB R3C 0V8 mincon@leg.gov.mb.ca Phone (204) 945-3730 or -3522 Fax (204) 945-35 |
| The
Honourable ROSANN WOWCHUK Minister of Agriculture and Food Room 165 Legislative Building 450 Broadway Winnipeg MB R3C 0V8 minagr@leg.gov.mb.ca Phone (204) 945-3722 Fax (204) 945-3470 |
The
Honourable BECKY BARRETT Minister of Labour Room 156 Legislative Building 450 Broadway Winnipeg MB R3C 0V8 minlab@leg.gov.mb.ca Phone (204) 945-4079 or -3266 Fax (204) 945-8312 |
| The
Honourable JEAN FRIESEN Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Room 301 Legislative Building 450 Broadway Winnipeg MB R3C 0V8 minia@leg.gov.mb.ca Phone (204) 945-3788 or -7024 Fax (204) 945-1383 |
HIS
WORSHIP GLEN MURRAY Mayor, City of Winnipeg Mayor’s Office Council Building City Hall 510 Main Street Winnipeg MB R3B 1B9 gmurray@city.winnipeg.mb.ca Phone (204) 986-2196 Fax (204) 949-0566 |