Citizens for the Environment and Future in Eastern Ontario

CITIZENS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FUTURE IN EASTERN ONTARIO

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Press release (10 March 2003)

Industrial Hog Operation in East Hawkesbury: Building permit has been refused, but it is too early to declare victory

The Chief Building Official of East Hawkesbury refused to issue a building permit for an industrial hog operation in St. Eugene. The application was incomplete when it was received by him in the afternoon of 20 February 2003, just hours before the municipality adopted an interim control by-law prohibiting the construction of buildings for the purposes of intensive livestock operations (operations housing 250 livestock units or more).

Because the application was incomplete, the interim control by-law passed by the municipality prevailed, and no permit could be issued for the planned industrial hog operation.

Residents of St. Eugene and Ste. Anne de Prescott, but also of the Quebec villages of Rigaud and Hudson, among others, were relieved to hear that the building permit has been denied. However, they realize that this may only be temporary relief, and are determined to continue the fight against the establishment of industrial hog operations in their midst. Residents are worried that the hog industry could challenge the interim control by-law to open the doors for the industry in East Hawkesbury, despite the vocal opposition of citizens and their many fears. The municipal council has publicly stated that, if the by-law is challenged, the municipality would defend it and do everything to protect the community, local farmers, and the health of citizens from the threats posed by hog industries.

But even if the interim by-law is not challenged or if it survives a challenge, it is only a temporary measure. The by-law provides protection for a maximum of one year. But once the new Ontario Nutrient Management Act and its regulations enter into force, which could happen in July, the new provincial legislation will override the municipal by-law, and the by-law would no longer provide any protection. This would open the doors to the Quebec hog industry that is trying to expand to Eastern Ontario at a time when it cannot expand in Quebec due to the moratorium in that province which prohibits any new intensive livestock operations until December of 2003 – unless Ontario also declares a moratorium to coincide with the Quebec moratorium, as has been proposed by MPP Jean Marc Lalonde.

There are many problems with Nutrient Management Act and its proposed regulations. For one thing, the new legislation does not protect family farms and sometimes imposes measures that are too strict for them. At the same time, however, the legislation does not protect the health of the people of Ontario, because it does not provide adequate protection from the serious potential effects of intensive hog industries. Those industries must be dealt with separately; they need to be regulated as what they are – industries, not as what they are not – farms.

The government of Ontario should have learned its lessons, and should do everything to protect farmers and our environment. Instead, it is protecting the interests of a few industries that threaten farmers and the future of our rural communities.

Citizens for the Environment and Future in Eastern Ontario (CEFEO) have called upon the elected officials of East Hawkesbury and the authorities of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell to join the growing movement of opposition which is rising all over Ontario against the new legislation.

We must remain vigilant, to preserve our rural communities, to protect farmers, and to protect our health and future.

The CEFEO has just launched a web site with more information: www.cefeo.org

YES to family farms, YES to farmers, YES to our rural environment

NO to mega hog operations and their promoters

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Information : stopthismegamadness@globetrotter.net