Manitoba Pork says the province's Red Tape Reduction and Government Efficiency Act is a positive step forward for the hog industry.

Mike Teillet is the Manager of Sustainable Development with Manitoba Pork.

He says the most important change in Bill 24 is the formal repeal of the requirement in The Environment Act for an anaerobic digester for new or expanding pig operations, a clause which basically put a moratorium on all hog barn construction in the province due to its high cost.

Teillet says removing the clause would have little or no effect on the environment.

"This was always a myth put forward by anti-hog groups, that somehow hog manure was getting into rivers and lakes and polluting the environment."

Teillet adds while the removal of the clause is important, it is somewhat symbolic as an agreement had been reached with the previous government that would allow barns to be built without an anaerobic digester. He notes there are about seven new barns underway at various stages of construction or planning and expects to see more when the bill passes.

Bill 24 will also eliminate a redundant clause in The Environment Act which bans winter spreading. The ban on winter spreading is firmly in place in regulation, so it does not need to be in the Act as well.

Manitoba Pork is encouraging hog producers to show their support for Bill 24 by attending a public presentation Monday or Tuesday night at the Legislative Building starting at 6pm.