New ag minister embraces Bill 81

TORONTO — Hog farms and the new nutrient management act have found a friend in Ontario’s new Minister of Agriculture Steve Peters.

Despite the city of Ottawa’s efforts to shut down hog farms it will not get any help from Peters.

In a telephone press conference Oct. 30, Peters said there will be no moratorium on hog barn construction or new restrictions on hog farms.

He also criticized political intervention at the local level, while showing support for Bill 81, the infamous nutrient bill that was tweaked until it became law in September.

"We supported the whole nutrient management process from day one," Peters said. "Our party supported province-wide standards and we mean to do away with this patch work of municipal bylaws that are out there." We are going to continue to support the process. Nutrient management planning is a good tool."

He sees no reason for amendments. "There is nothing in the way of substantive changes," he said. "There are some technical changes that need to be made but they are certainly not going to change the intent of the act. They are minor in nature, mainly from the stand point of wording."

He did not say if the province will provide funding for farmers to help them comply with Bill 81.

"There are dollars that have been allocated to the 2003-2004 budget for nutrient management," he said. "Those dollars are still intact and we just need the approval so that we can continue to work with the enforcement officers and the investigatory people to ensure the act is implemented."