Province wants municipalities to amalgamate

Fewer and larger rural municipalities are on the horizon with last week’s throne speech calling for mandatory amalgamation of the province’s smallest local governments. Ninety-two of Manitoba’s 197 municipalities no longer meet the Municipal Act’s population threshold of 1,000. Many of these now have fewer than 500 constituents and some even less than 200. Yet,

Province to back new loan program for hog producers

A financial stabilization program is on the horizon for Manitoba pork producers. Speaking to hog farmers and industry representatives in Niverville, Manitoba Pork Council chairman Karl Kynoch outlined a new loan program designed by the council — one that would see cash loans distributed by financial institutions, administered by Manitoba Pork Council Corporation, and guaranteed


Winter work begins on new Coulter bridge

The provincial government is hoping to cut in half the time it usually takes to replace a washed-out bridge on PR 251 near Coulter, Transportation Minister Steve Ashton says. This bridge had to be closed due to severe flood damage. “We all know the damage inflicted by last year’s flood has been substantial. The province

Hopes high for soon-to-be-appointed TB co-ordinator

The imminent appointment of a TB co-ordinator will hopefully end the “bureaucratic gridlock” and reform the effort to eradicate bovine tuberculosis in the Riding Mountain area, says the general manager of Manitoba Beef Producers. “It hasn’t been announced, but it’s very close,” Cam Dahl told attendees at the association’s recent District 12 meeting. “It’s something


Farmer complains about oil spills

The provincial government is turning a blind eye to southwestern Manitoba oil-drilling companies dumping saltwater and oil in municipal ditches, a Cromer-area farmer says. Carlyle Jorgensen, who farms near Cromer, told the Keystone Agricultural Producers meeting here last week the government is fearful of discouraging oil well development in the province. “From December (2011) until

City charged for releasing sewage into Red River over seven-week period

They’re not blaming farmers for this one The provincial government has charged the City of Winnipeg for releasing “a large amount” of partially treated sewage into the Red River a year ago. The release of the effluent, which had high levels of fecal coliform and E. coli, began on Oct. 7, 2011 and lasted for


Ten Sask. community pastures transferred in late 2013

Cattle producers now using 10 federally operated community pastures in Saskatchewan will need to be ready to run them in 2014, while a community pasture in southern Alberta will leave ranching to join the army. The federal government on Oct. 19 listed the first 10 Saskatchewan community pastures to be transferred to the provincial government

Are you ready to give up your WeedEx?

The provincial government wants public input before deciding whether to ban cosmetic pesticide use in Manitoba. Although pesticides used in agriculture — including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides — aren’t included in consultations, a possible ban on cosmetic pesticides would still have repercussions for farmers, said Doug Chorney, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers. “We need to


Legal protection for municipal leaders revisited

Councillors want same legal protections as MPs and MLAs Municipal politicians are welcoming a move that could result in them being given a form of parliamentary privilege. After a series of lawsuits against councils, the Association of Manitoba Municipalities recommended in 2009 that mayors, reeves and councillors be protected from being sued from comments they

Canada’s role in meeting humanity’s biggest challenge

In 40 years’ time the world will need to have increased global food production and supply by 100 per cent to provide adequate nutrition for its nine billion or more inhabitants. This implies an annual growth in agricultural productivity of 2.5 per cent, from the same or less land. Over the past three decades, despite