Most of us recall these words that were promised to Manitobans: the hog industry will be Manitoba’s salvation.
It would be a salvation if only there were enough producers to produce the six per cent of pork we consume. Society could deal with that including assistance. The balance — 94 per cent — is to satisfy the wishes of government, processors and the industry, etc. That 94 per cent is where the problem lies with pollution and bailouts.
Perhaps the help they require should come from the ones that benefit on this 94 per cent? With this in mind, the contribution to Lake Winnipeg from adjoining hog operations tells the tale. Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northern States are all responsible for the lakes demise.
On the Winnipeg Free Press’s front page there was a large printed SOS; does that mean “Save our Ship”; it’s in deep poop in Lake Winnipeg?
The Puratone saga comes as no surprise. Business has to learn to survive on it’s own. The late David Lewis called them corporate welfare bums! It seems that whenever a large business gets into financial trouble, it calls the Help Line! There are many a beef farmer that is struggling and no help line is extended. Yet these are the people, through thick and thin survived many a crisis and built what we have today. Where are these thoughtless agricultural ministers and their gurus to help them?
Yesterdays WFP has an article in Top News and a plea from KAP captain Doug Chorney for financial help. Where does he think the governments will get their money from? Obviously he can’t let these financially affected business go to the ones who set them up. To name a few: Gary Filmon, Gary Doer, their agriculture ministers, not to omit Rossann Wowchuk who took Harry Enns’s pork manifesto and raced to no end to see that the industry is in it’s glory. Well we can see the glory she produced. Wholesale pollution, land, air and water. But in spite of poor prices, there is no drop of pork prices in the stores.
So, Mr. Chorney, perhaps go and ask these pork saviours to bail you out. They are the ones who led the pork industry down the garden path. Don’t ask the innocent Manitobans to pay for your greed and mistakes. Put a cap on KAP and don’t ask for bailouts; that only prolongs the aging agony of the ones who suffer from this useless manoeuvre and previous bailouts.
Perhaps get on board and have this industry clean up it’s mess first, like a good parent would.
If anyone wants any sympathy from me, there is none. I got displaced from my family Farm from this sordid intrusion. I sympathize with the ones that have to bear with this menace to the fullest. Bear in mind Mr. Chorney that not so long ago there was an outcry for more pork production for the Brandon plant. Then came the news of approximately 500 dead hogs in southern Manitoba and a more recent one where approximately 1,300 weanling were put under, not to mention the countless deaths that were attributed to fires.
We are led to believe this is a viable and clean industry?
Keep government out of agriculture. Let them figure it out like most of us!
Joe Leschyshyn
Eriksdale
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition September 22, 2012
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Posted by:Bill the Needle
September 23, 2012 at 9:23 PM
Agreed, the hog industry is not be the salvation of the province but it need not be the bane of the province either. If China can have a hog population of almost 500 million, surely there is room for a few million in Manitoba without the world going to hell.
As for the price of pork being high, does the gentleman ever go to a food store? Pork is about the same price now as 30 years ago.