Pigs Don't Stink and the Earth is Flat

Pigs don't stink and the Earth is flat was the notice on a sign at the rally this evening in opposition to the Olywest Hog Processing and Rendering Plant being located at the St. Boniface Industrial Park.

Many local residents came out to listen to presentations by Craig Sangster and Lawrence Toet. Many commented, almost without exception speaking in opposition to he Olywest plant being located in the St. Boniface Industrial Park.

Craig Sangster, of Vita Health, emphasized that the concerned citizens group is not against the plant or the hog industry, only against the proposed location. For Vita Health, their concerns are of such significance that if the Olywest Plant comes close to their location (as proposed) they will be forced to consider moving elsewhere, likely to Ontario. Vita Health now employs about 400 people and is hoping to expand to four times this number in the next decade. Losing Vita Health would be a major loss for Winnipeg.

Craig Sangster, speaking for the whole group of businesses in the area who are opposed to the Hog plant being located nearby said the Premier had refused to meet with their group. He also emphasized that they are concerned about the undemocratic way that decisions have been made to date.

Manitoba Liberals have taken a position in support of that of the Concerned Citizens in opposition to the St. Boniface Industrial Park as the site of the hog processing plant. See http://www.manitobaliberals.ca/2006/04/liberal-policy-and-proposed-olywest.html
I spoke at the meeting to state our support for the Concerned Citizens Coalition. I also mentioned my visit to Neepawa where problems with the sewage treatment from the hog plant are still not fully resolved many years after the plant was built.