Lake Winnipeg must be a priority

Charleswood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/01/2024 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The environment makes headlines daily but there has been little commentary from the Manitoba NDP government on plans for the future. Other than an announcement that the government plans to protect 30 per cent of land and water and provide rebates for electric vehicle, the environment wasn’t a highlight of the election campaign.

In my last column for the Free Press Community Review, I wrote about priorities the NDP government identified in its election platform, which included a commitment to social and affordable housing; specifically, investment in rent-geared-to-income units. A recent announcement of $5.7 million plan for up to 250 rental units to help homeless provides hope that social housing is being taken seriously.

Health care was another priority. Promises were made to fix health care by expanding services and improving working conditions and meetings to determine the best way to tackle the long standing problems shows movement on that front.

The issue of the environment, however, seems to lack specific plans, and requires attention. There’s been controversy surrounding the carbon tax and a gas tax holiday is happening, but there are other sources of pollution and ways to address them.

For example, there are more than 500 industrialized hog barns in the province of Manitoba, each housing about 5,000 pigs. The waste from these hog barns is a major source of pollution to Lake Winnipeg. Despite assurances that existing waste management processes work, there is not enough land to absorb waste from millions of pigs every year, so the slurry ends up in rivers and eventually makes its way into Lake Winnipeg, where it appears as a shiny smear of blue algae.

The provincial government is responsible for regulating industrialized hog barns and should be monitoring the pollution produced by these barns. Stronger regulations are needed to ensure wastewater is processed and spread properly, and there must be oversight by an outside agency to ensure regulations t are being enforced. Better monitoring of barn practices with respect to how pigs are treated and housed is also essential.

As opposition leader, Wab Kinew indicated the protection of Lake Winnipeg would be a priority for his government, and he would continue to work on that important issue. While the industrialized hog industry got its foothold in Manitoba under a Progressive Conservative government, the industry continued to expand at alarming rates under the NDP.

That trend needs to be addressed.

In the lead-up to the election, Kinew said he wants to improve Lake Winnipeg’s health and protect it for future generations. Advocates for humane treatment of animals and Manitobans who want to resume recreational activities without wading or paddling through algae blooms will be watching to see Premier Kinew stands by his word.