The new municipal planning act, that took effect in Manitoba January 1, 2006, contained several changes in how livestock operations are defined and regulated...including requirements for municipalities to adopt development plans, with those development plans to contain livestock operation policies, within two years.

Manitoba Pork Council manager of sustainable development Mike Teillet says only a handful will be in a position to comply.

Mike Teillet-Manitoba Pork Council

The plans themselves, many municipalities have plans in place.

Most actually have them but the livestock operation policies that are supposed to be imbedded in those plans, there have been very few of those adopted.

In fact I believe at this point there are only ten or 11 municipalities that have adopted livestock operation policies.

Probably the single largest factor, there's probably a number of things that have caused this to happen, but the single largest factor no doubt is the Clean Environment Commission's examination and review of the industry and the pause that was placed on expansion of existing and new barns in Manitoba.

What I think has happened is municipalities are sitting back and waiting to see what comes out of the CEC report and what the government does.

I think, to some extent rightfully so, there are concerns that they don't want to adopt a livestock operation policy and then have all the rules change on them.

Teillet believes it's highly unlikely the remaining 180 or so municipalities are going to be able to get their livestock operation policies in place by the January 1, 2008 deadline.

He suggests the minister responsible for the planning act will need to start issuing extensions on the deadline, probably in the order of a year or so.