March 01, 2006
Manitobans who are interested in participating in Clean Environment Commission (CEC) hearings into the proposed OlyWest plant may apply for funding support when the hearings are announced, Conservation Minster Stan Struthers announced today.
"We want a full and thorough environmental review once the company makes a decision to proceed with the plant, in order to provide funding to participants and help ensure interested parties will be heard," said Struthers.
The company is considering building a $200-million plant in the St. Boniface Industrial Park. Before construction can start, the firm has to apply for and receive an Environment Act licence. Once the application is received, there will be a period for public comments followed by a hearing which will be conducted by the CEC. The proposal may create up to 1,100 new jobs and a new market for finished Manitoba hogs.
Information that was prepared by Manitoba Conservation for the environmental assessment and licensing process provides more information for the preparation of the proposal. The environmental impact statement can be viewed at http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/envapprovals/registries/.
The Manitoba government has fulfilled a commitment to appoint commission members who possess scientific and technical expertise to strengthen the environmental licensing process. The CEC is an arm’s-length provincial agency that encourages and facilitates public involvement in environmental matters and offers advice and recommendations to the minister of conservation with respect to environmental issues, project approvals and environmental licences. More information on the CEC is available at: http://www.cecmanitoba.ca/.
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