Lippert wants meat industry to pay for process

Published: May 21, 2009 6:00 PM Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star

A politician insists it’s time for taxpayers to stop funding the fight against meat processing rules. The North Okanagan Regional District has spent about $16,000 as part of a process to change the province’s meat inspection regulations. But director Wayne Lippert says it’s time for the agricultural and processing industries to take an active role. “These groups, if they want to carry on, need to step up to the plate,” he said. “We need the support of industry and the community.” There’s been some discussion about NORD hiring a consultant to look at procedures producers and processors must follow to achieve compliance with the regulations. He would also develop a business case for both modifying the rules and increasing processing capacity. Other items the consultant would look at are zoning amendments to permit abattoirs in agricultural zones and creating a business case for each commodity, such as beef, poultry and lamb. With a price tag of between $30,000 and $50,000, other board members are also concerned about hiring a consultant. “We’re talking about serious dollars,” said director Will Hansma. But director Rick Fairbairn believes there is a need for NORD to tackle waste management, enforcement and zoning. “It behooves us to pursue those issues to allow for farm gate sales,” he said.“Someone has to pick up the ball and keep this in motion. For us to drop it now would be detrimental to the community.”In the end, directors have voted to send the proposal for a consultant to industry partners to determine if they will become financially involved.

Vernon Morning Star Editorial Published: May 21, 2009 6:00 PM

Funding search worth a look

North Okanagan Regional District director Wayne Lippert has a point about the costs of the battle against meat processing rules. NORD has already spent $16,000 in defence of farm gate sales, and is contemplating spending another $30,000 to $50,000 to hire a consultant on the topic. Although the issue is vital to this area’s agriculture, the cost to taxpayers is growing and every opportunity to get funding from other sources needs to be explored. And that includes possibly tapping into funding from the agricultural and processing industries that are most affected by the rules. That doesn’t mean the regional district politicians are excused from lobbying efforts with provincial politicians and organizations, but local taxpayers can’t keep footing the bill continuously for what is a provincial issue. Director Rick Fairbairn is rightfully concerned that any delay in pursuing the issue would be “detrimental to the community.” And the director points out that the consultant would also be involved in looking at what procedures processors and producers must follow to achieve compliance with the regulations, as well as developing a business plan for all commodities. However, it only makes sense for NORD to see if there are opportunities for industry partners to become involved financially, before any attempts to hire a consultant at taxpayers’ expense are pursued.