OlyWest Opponents Create Powerful Alliance
October 5, 2006
NoWinniPIG Campaign aims at City Election
WINNIPEG, MB – The OlyOpp Alliance – a newly created coalition of major businesses, citizens and other organizations – today announced their plan to work together on a common goal to stop the hog slaughtering plant from locating in Winnipeg. The OlyOpp Alliance is comprised of members from the OlyOpp Business Group, Concerned Citizens Coalition, Animal Watch Manitoba, Winnipeg Humane Society, Manitoba Wildlands, Save Our Seine, the Liberal Party of Manitoba, the Green Party of Manitoba, and the Stop The Hogs Coalition. Several other groups are expected to join shortly.
“I can’t remember when such a force was gathered. It’s a unique group because it brings together people from the left and right of the political spectrum, management and labour, young and old, environmentalists and developers working together. While our members have many objectives to achieve within their own mandates, the OlyOpp Alliance will work together towards the sole objective of preventing OlyWest from locating in the St. Boniface Industrial Park of Winnipeg” said Ed Shinewald, newly appointed spokesperson for the OlyOpp Alliance.
The Alliance unveiled its “nowinnipig” campaign at a media event at Melet Plastics in the St. Boniface Industrial Park. Shinewald explained the Alliance will continue to support endorsed civic candidates and work to alter the make-up of city council in order to overturn the OlyWest resolution made in October 2005.
“It is time for our city and provincial governments to talk to citizens before they make a decision, and provide subsidies to a development that can hurt our community, our local economy and leave us with environmental effects that will also cost” said Gaile Whelan-Enns, a co-spokesperson for the Alliance and head of Manitoba Wildlands. “Oly West needs to be the last time our governments sign a secret back room deal and then try to tell us it is good for us !”
The nowinnipig campaign will also consist of an informative website –www.nowinnipig.net- and eye catching visual images that will be prominently displayed throughout the campaign. A variety of activities are planned to continue to inform the public of the impact the plant will have on the environment, local infrastructure, businesses, and the image of our city. A major rally is being planned for later on in the month close to the Civic Election Day.
The OlyOpp Alliance has also planned activities around the regulatory issues in preparation for the Clean Environment Commission hearings that may eventually take place. The group plans to extend the campaign, if necessary, throughout the civic election and into the next Provincial election when it is called.
October 6, 2006 at 7:20 pm
Marianne issued the following news release today:
Cerilli Welcomes Endorsement of the OlyOpp Alliance
Cerilli Repeats Pledge to block the OlyWest Hog Slaughter Plant
WINNIPEG, Oct. 6, 2006 – Mayoral candidate Marianne Cerilli today welcomed the formation of the OlyOpp Alliance and its endorsement of her candidacy. She reiterated her pledge to block the OlyWest deal if elected Mayor.
“Sam Katz’s deal with OlyWest stinks,” Cerilli said. “It was cooked up in a backroom, and imposed on the citizens of Winnipeg without their consultation or consideration. The best way to stop this stinky deal is to elect a new mayor and councilors who will stand up for Winnipeg.”
Cerilli said it was encouraging to see so many diverse organizations standing up for healthy communities, a safe environment, democracy and due consideration for all businesses. “Residents groups, environmentalists and business groups are united in opposition to this plant. They are saying “no” to bad, unsustainable development. On Oct. 25, they will say “no” to the mayor and councilors who are trying to force it on them.”
Cerilli repeated her call for Winnipeggers and Manitobans to demand of Manitoba’s Conservation Minister that the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission consider the environmental impact of increased hog production in Manitoba as part of the OlyWest review.
“Surely the local impact of increased hog production is at least as important as marketing hogs in a global marketplace. The OlyWest plant will increase demand for hogs in Manitoba at a time when 7.5 million hogs are produced annually. The resulting pollution of air, water and soils around the province is a very serious issue. The impact of any increased and unsustainable hog production must be considered in the review.”
Oct. 10 has been set as a deadline for public comments on the OlyWest Review terms of reference.
The OlyOpp Alliance is a broad coalition of diverse organizations, businesses, citizens’ groups, and individuals working in partnership to stop the construction of the OlyWest hog processing facility at its current location inside Winnipeg’s city limits. Its web site is at http://www.nowinnipig.net/.
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More Information: Paul Graham 954-3707
http://www.marianneformayor.ca
October 6, 2006 at 7:25 pm
I know I’m biased, but when is City Council and the Doer government going to wake up and look for a solution to the problem? Doing nothing will result in Olymel moving out of Manitoba. We need more value-added production in Manitoba, but for goodness sake, Winnipeg is NOT the place to put it.
I don’t think that you people (City and Province) have even talked with the concerned citizens and businesses.
October 7, 2006 at 1:00 am
take a look at this anti pig factory farming cartoom movie its great
http://www.themeatrix.com/about/
October 7, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Wake up people. There is nothing wrong with having the new plant in the city. Today’s technology will handle whatever it is you think that the old Burns plant tossed at you. If you want to cry about things go after the mushroom plant. That thing stinks a lot more than Burns ever did.
October 9, 2006 at 6:28 pm
I was getting my car fixed at Can. Tire on Regent this past June. A pickup truck with 3 live hogs drove by and parked in the lot. The smell was so strong it was sick.The proponents of Olywest are trying to tell us that 100 hogs in a semi won’t stink when it goes by? By the way, a couple of us walked up to that pickup with 3 hogs and noticed it had lots of straw under the 3 pigs and it still stank to hog heaven!At least be truthful about the stench you Olywest supporters!
By the way, nice to see that Olymel in Quebec hired Lucian Bouchard as their hatchetman to spin wage cuts for pork plant workers in Quebec as well as try explain why Olymel is projected to lose $155 million since 2003.
While were at it ,all you Olywest proponents might want to explain to me why your “clean industry” was fined $4.5 million dollars in Kansas City Mo. on Sept. 26 ,2006.Thats right, Premium Standard Farms , the 2nd largest hog producer in the U S. IS PAYING OUT MILLIONS TO 6 PLAINTIFFS FOR”INTERFERING WITH THEIR ABILITY TO ENJOY THEIR PROPERTY”. Your industry stinks from cradle to slaughterhouse. Oh Oh, what’s this from the Gimli Interlake Spectator May 12, 2006? Headline reads ‘ DEAD HOGS DISCOVERED”. Seems one of those great stewards of the environment,a Arbourg area hog farmer dumped his dead hogs in the bush and got caught.Yea, real stewardship I see. Oh Oh, not another one, this time from CBC news release on April 28, 2006. Headline reads” Manitoba Conservation Probes Manure Spill”. Seems the KAMSLEY Hutterite Colony near Portage la Prarie lost 1.5 million Litres of hog manure right into the Cypress River which runs into the Assinniboine.Bet Lake Winnipeg Algae blooms need even more Phosphouros to feed on!!!! Clean industry eh?????
October 9, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Hi.
I think the coalition and the website are great.
Perhaps you could add the names of candidates in other ridings who are not yet councillors but determined to vote against Ollywest. For example, Arlene Jones in Mynarski ward.
Frances
October 9, 2006 at 8:50 pm
Also, I wrote Mayor Sam a message suggesting that he avoid the biggest embarassment of his political career, but it came back as undeliverable because the domain name was not configured correctly. Does this link need updating?
October 10, 2006 at 5:40 pm
In North Kildonan we are sick and tired of not being listened to. Many of us are also opposed to the OlyWest plant. And the possibility of separating from Winnipeg and forming a separate city is being considered. I would advise residents St. Boniface and Transcona to begin the process of separating from Winnipeg. Perhaps hitting the city hard in the property tax department might get them talking. It’s time to take back control of our communities. Separate!
October 10, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Mr D.,
I would recommend reading the contents of the nowinnipig.net website. You will likely change your opinion. There is no doubt that this factory WILL indeed smell up St.B and Transcona… even if it’s a minimal stink (relatively speaking), the 45000 open trucks coming into the city per week, packed full of hogs and their sh– will also stink… a lot!
October 10, 2006 at 10:40 pm
It’s encouraging to see groups and individuals coming together in opposition of the absurd proposal to locate a hog slaughtering and rendering facility inside the city of Winnipeg. Clearly, those who are in support of this insane idea have little regard for their fellow citizens who would be adversely affected. They also seem to be completely unaware of sustainability issues, and they lack vision of what it takes to build a vital and vibrant city that human beings would wish to live and thrive in.
It seems that short-term gains (financial returns for those directly involved in building and running the plant, as well as political claims of job-creation and economic development success by politicians) have clouded the long-term implications.
Though I am not a resident of Winnipeg, I am the owner of a business that I started in the city 30 years ago. It will be a dark day if OlyWest is permitted to proceed with its plans… and I would fear that precedent as a step onto a slippery slope for the future.
Please, please don’t let this insane plan proceed. Encourage your friends, colleagues, and fellow citizens to oppose this scheme, and to vote accordingly.
October 11, 2006 at 3:04 am
The only proof I need that this is indeed a very bad thing is how it was forced upon us in secrecy. Good things that people are proud of don’t get done this way.I am encouraged by so many people who werent willing to roll over on this in the face of the opponent’s “done deal” strategy designed to quash opposition.You should all be proud for doing your democratic duty. Let’s show them at the polls that this conduct will not be tollerated in Winnipeg.
October 12, 2006 at 2:53 am
We need all the citizens of Wpg who usually don’t vote or are giving up their vote because they think it won’t make a difference, to get to the polls. If we all stand up against Olywest, City Hall and the provincial government we can win. Let’s stop them from imposing horrible things on our beautiful city, and make it a great one. It has to start with the right people. We need someone who is honest, and open to be our Mayor. Not someone who does business behind closed doors, without any regard for the people who have been faithful to Wpg. If someone cannot be honest in their personal business dealings, how can they be trusted to do the same with those of a city? Unfortunately, your ballot is the only voice you have. STAND UP and fight, together we can do it.
October 13, 2006 at 10:13 pm
Realistically, Sam Katz is a businessman. He is trying to create jobs in a city where so many people are moving West and working on the rigs in Alberta. Do we object to the mining and production of oil and its products? Not when we have health care that is provided to us, and so many other benefits and advatages over other countries. People in our city need jobs….why not put your energy into finding jobs for the cities unemployed, homeless, and those living in poverty!!! There are better things to protest! Provide mayor Sam Katz with alternatives! Advise him to look outside of city limits….if you want to make a difference, don’t oppose a company that would create jobs for our citizens….oppose the location, and come up with solutions! Whining and complaining doesn’t usually help. Make a difference, by being different.
October 14, 2006 at 12:47 am
Listening says I’ll bet is someone else who lives nowhere near this plant. The farther they are away the better the idea sounds. Here’s a question; if you were building a house would you put the toilet in the living room?
October 16, 2006 at 4:00 am
To “listening”
I didn’t see your beloved Mayor Katz go after the new plants that Toyota, Hyundai and Harley Davidson are building in the U. S. and Canada and their $24 dollar an Hr.jobs. Instead he has to open a pork slaughter plant that pays $9.00 an hour. Yea, bet that keeps the young people here!!!! By the way, Olymel in Quebec is already talking worker wage cuts, and how long do you think it will be before Olywest askes for more public money, like Maple Leaf in Brandon is doing right now?
October 18, 2006 at 1:31 am
I just saw Marriane on cbc news.They used the old line “what message would killing the Olywest deal have on other busineses thinking about locating here?” The simple answer is SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND RENDERING PLANTS ARE NOT WELCOME IN OUR CITY. Secondary messages might be Winnipeg’s citizens wil not stand for any industry which needs to come in absolute secrecy to avoid public opposition and also we wil never give in to Katz’s done deal strategy designed to resign us to our fate and quash opposition.A vote for Katz wil send him the message that the people of Winnipeg condone his abuse of power , perversion of democracy and contempt for innocent taxpayers as proven when he locked the citizens out of City Hall in May.
October 18, 2006 at 2:56 pm
The smell isn’t the only factor to consider in opposing the slaughterhouse. The fact that that is the issue getting the most airtime is indicative of a not-in-my-backyard (but it’s ok in someone elses’) mentality.
History shows in places like North Carolina and Quebec that government that gives tax breaks to hog production with the intention to stimulate the economy, does so at the expense of personal and environmental health. To keep up with the new slaughterhouse and rendering plant, Manitoba’s already overactive hog industry will need to grow even more to provide pig “units” to keep the killing machine oiled. Nutrient overload to our water systems will aggrevate algal blooms. Cruddy low pay dangerous jobs, and all the notorious negative offspins of the meatpacking industry (read: Diet for a Dead Planet, or Fast Food Nation)are not a “pro” and do not counterbalance all the environmental, human and animal rights, and personal health problems caused by high-intensity confinement factory farming.
By saying it’s ok to build a huge slaughterhouse and redering plant, but just not near an urban area, disrespects the plight of many residents in rural municipalities who are going unheard because they don’t have the numbers and population density to fight the hog barns (such as my own rural relatives). The meat industry has alot of clout with government and factory farms often locate in the places where they will meet the least public resistance, such as marginalized communities (in the States, often black and low income)and then use their weight to intimidate and threaten concerned citizens. Sometimes these communities welcome confinement meat production if they’re economically depressed (is Manitoba desperate enough to sell out our eco-resources for a quick cash fix?). At least since they’re targetting our capital city (at first) we have the population density to form a cohesive and connected alliance of opposition.
October 19, 2006 at 8:43 am
Your absolutely right on all counts, Marnie (do I know you from somewhere?). Many of us who are fighting OlyWest individually, as groups and as part of the OlyOpp Alliance are fighting the larger battle to put the breaks on an immoral meat industry wherever it rears its ugly head. Indeed, we’re fighting to dismantle it altogether. An interesting thing we’ve found is that the NIMBY (not in my back yard) opponents of OlyWest have tended to adopt the broader, not in anyone’s back yard, perspective as they learn about the realities of the issue. Two of our comrades in arms are a “NIMBY” couple who stopped eating factory-farmed pork this summer and, as they learned even more, stopped eating meat altogether. They’re now practically vegan. When you start opening your mind and your heart to the injustices of this world, there’s no telling how far you’ll go.
October 20, 2006 at 11:24 pm
Are you guys stupid? I just heard on the news tonight that people are leaving Manitoba. Why? It could be that there are not enough good jobs! This would be a GREAT way to keep people in Manitoba. Just think of all the jobs that could open up, construction, managers in the plant and in the barns, ect. If the smell is your concern, I live out in the country and have hog barns near my house, and I can truthfully tell you that they DO NOT smell!
Don’t believe all that the Oly Opps tell you until you look and the big picture for yourself!
I, myself, think that your efforts, IF you win (and that is a big IF!) you would be shooting all of Manitoba in the foot and make Manitoba into another dieing province!
October 20, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Kyle, you say hog barns don,t stink? I value your opinion, you are clearly very credible.
October 21, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Great job with the Oct 20 Free Press article, guys! They had a nice big picture that showed a bunch of signs for the website, so I was able to find it easily, and I hope others will as well.
One of the first things my high school geography teacher told everyone was not to support operations such as hog plants, and we did an entire unit on them. I hope young voters remember your cause and remember what we all learned a few years ago regarding hog plants. They’re bad for the environment, they can be detrimental to everyone’s health, and it’s horrible for those poor pigs.
I just wanted to thank you for putting up a list of candidates against the plant, I wasn’t sure who I was going to vote for previously.
Keep up the great work! Especially with the help of the huge picture in the paper, I’m sure more people will become aware of the cause.
October 22, 2006 at 3:21 am
Hey Kyle,
You are simply being less than truthful when you say hog barns don’t stink so don’t insult us with your hog industry apologist statement.Go see a nose specialist then your preacher.
October 23, 2006 at 12:00 am
I think Oly West would be a big business boost for the City of Winnipeg, if we are ever to compete with Alberta we must bring more businesses here.
It has been proven that there will be no smell from the plant. All you people who oppose this plant, which will bring millions of dollars to this city.
You are all a bunch losers with nothing better to do with your life than to complain.
If you don’t like it, then move to another province,
we don’t need losers like you here anyway.
All the best of luck to Oly West,
Don’t back down, Winnipeg needs you.
October 23, 2006 at 12:07 am
Opponents of ventures such as this have been keeping this city back for way too long. Enough is enough already, just because you dont like something means it cant happen? If there WERE proof that it will stink all to high hell then yes I would support your decision, but there isnt. And this is only one of the several key points they go on ranting about.
You supporters are no different…. just a bunch of blind sheep following the rest and looking for the next bandwagon to jump on.
What I find offensive is your disgusting signs making more of an eyesore littering the streets. Maybe i’ll go rip them down, because I dont like them.
October 23, 2006 at 1:54 pm
How are $9 or $10 an hour jobs at Olywest going to keep our young here ? The lack of vision starts with Mayor Katz and Premier Doer and people like aj and rottensburg.As well, how does a pork plant near a fine suburb boost Winnipeg’s image anywhere?
October 23, 2006 at 4:49 pm
Rural Manitobans have been working for at least 20 years to keep mega hog operations out of their communities. There are 2 reasons why we have not been successful. One is the provincial governments’( both Conservative and NDP)determination to foist industrial agriculture on rural residents. The other is the lack of concern by city residents for their rural neighbours. The sudden urban interest in the hog issue makes us smile. City folks certainly weren’t saying anything when the barns to produce 7 million hogs were springing up in our back yards.
City dwellers must start thinking outside the perimeter and realize that if that plant goes in, your cottage country will be one big hog sewage lagoon. It is time for rural and urban citizens to speak with one voice to keep Olywest out of Manitoba. The OlyOpp Alliance is a good start.
October 23, 2006 at 7:03 pm
I see that no one is screening the comments on this blog. Good! This is all about democracy and seeing that everyone is treated equally and able to voice oppinions even if those oppinions don’t agree with ours. I bet if this was a pork industry site there would be no such tollerance given. Well done
October 24, 2006 at 11:32 pm
Remember the hullabaloo when a First Nation tried to start a subdivision on their own land near the Shoal Lake Inlet for the GWWD acqueduct. Three levels of government shut down the development so as to not endanger Winnipeg’s water supply.
Let us protect Winnipeg’s water supply by keeping the proposed OlyWest plant away from the GWWD acqueduct.
October 25, 2006 at 5:30 am
Hi,
I was very disappointed to hear that you were endorsing Robert Galston in Mynarski when it has been Arlene Jones who clearly states her opposition to the Hog plant.In our area of Mynarski she is the only candidate who has reached every constituent with clear information on where she stands on certain issues and her literature certainly makes her opposal to Sam’s plan clear. She is also the only candidate who has met with aboriginal leaders over what they want to see happen regarding urban reserves.I feel that endorsing Robert Galston is a mistake as Robert doesnt even talk to the votoers of the community and has not done any work in our community. Please revisit this endorsment or at least endorse Arlene as well.
Laurie
October 26, 2006 at 3:26 pm
On behalf of Marianne Cerilli and the Marianne for Mayor Campaign Team, I wish to thank all of the people who supported Marianne’s campaign. The OlyOpp Alliance was very supportive and we received help and encouragement from many Winnipeggers opposed to the kind of development exemplified by the OlyWest plan.
The election is over, but the struggle will continue. We will stop this plant and we will continue our fight for a safe, healthy, sustainable and inclusive city.
Paul Graham
Campaign Manager
Marianne for Mayor
October 27, 2006 at 11:24 pm
see ya Franco
November 6, 2006 at 4:44 am
I would like to say to J. Rottensburg & AJ, it is quite obvious you are very well educated about the hog industry and factory farming in general. Have you even bothered to take the time to learn anything about it? Do you really think we have nothing better to do than spend countless hours trying to save our life savings, our health, our city and Lake Winnipeg? We didn’t choose this, it chose us. What you don’t realize is, that is this project goes ahead, there will be business’s and life long residents leaving this province. Why would anyone want to live and work in a place where they are treated with such disrespect? Not me. So don’t worry, if Olywest comes, all you people who mocked all the people who knew better, can have them and the destruction that comes with. You’ll have to look in the mirror everyday and look at the real loosers.
November 9, 2006 at 3:09 am
The struggle continues and progress is possible. Here is what Marianne Cerilli had to say in a news release today.
NEWS RELEASE: November 8, 2006
Review of provincial hog production a positive step
Cerilli applauds Provincial halt on new intensive hog operations
Winnipeg, Nov. 8, 2006: Activist and recent Winnipeg Mayoralty candidate Marianne Cerilli congratulated the Province of Manitoba for its announcements today of water protection measures that were in keeping with suggestions she made to the Province during the recent civic election.
“By sending its internal report to the Clean Environment Commission, the government has moved to ensure some public review of hog production, as was recommended by the Clean Environment Commission after the hearings on the Maple Leaf Hog Plant in Brandon,” said Cerilli. “I am also pleased to see that this will be accompanied by a halt on new intensive hog operations until the review and its recommendations are completed and implemented.”
“The Environment and Health Impact Assessment of hog production in Manitoba must be completed before the review process of the OlyWest plant,” continued Ms Cerilli, who for her first term as a NDP MLA was the NDP caucus Environment spokesperson. “I hope this is the beginning of a new era of abiding by the precautionary principle when we are planning economic development in Manitoba.”
Cerilli said Manitobans can no longer afford a jobs-at-any-cost attitude that leaves public and environmental health as after-thoughts. “Good economic planning takes into account the full cost of development, including the cost of waste disposal and pollution, workplace safety and health as well as transportation costs and alternatives approaches,” said Cerilli.
“I hope the Province also moves on the concerns that I raised about the limited participant funding for CEC hearings and the selection of those participants for the OlyWest Hearings.” Cerilli concluded.
November 15, 2006 at 11:32 pm
PLEASE TELL ME WHY, MAPLE LEAF, THE FISH PLANT, HAVE HIRING SIGNS UP FOR MONTHS ADVERTISING $9.00 HOUR JOBS. OH DID I MENTION FOR MONTHS. WELL MAYBE $9.00 IS NOT EVEN ENOUGH MONEY TO ACCEPT FOR A JOB WHEN YOU COULD PROBABLY MAKE THAT MUCH OFF WELFARE. TRY OFFERING $12.00 AND I BET THE SIGNS WILL BE DOWN AT THE END OF A WEEK. THESE COMPANIES DO NOT PROVIDE A DECENT WAGE FOR THE PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE IN WINNIPEG THAT IS WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING TO GO TO ALBERTA. NOT TO MENTION THE WORKING CONDITIONS. AND IT IS KNOWN THAT OLYWEST IS NOT OFFERING A DECENT WAGE EITHER AND IT WILL NOT BE BENIFITING OUR CITY AT ALL WHEN THE BRING IN THE IMMIGRANTS TO FILL THESE LOW PAYING , DISCUSTING JOBS. LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE WHEN THINKING ABOUT OLYWEST INSIDE OUR CITY. SMELL, TRAFFIC, QUALITY OF LIFE. NEED I SAY MORE.
November 26, 2006 at 6:16 pm
I encourage everyone opposed to the Oly West Plant to search google for: Time Magazine November 30, 1998 and read the article Empire of the Pigs.This article provides historical data of what our concerns and expectations should be. You will read that environmental issues are a concern but not the major one to focus on. This article deals with good factual information on what is occuring in many towns and States across the U.S.A. Some but not all are: 1. We have no workers. 2.Historically jobs are filled by immigrants from South American companies. 3.Low wages,4. 100% employee turnover per year.5.A drain on Health Care. 6.An increase in welfare recepients.
7. Creation of a new slum area.8.Tax dollars subsidy’s to private busness to create jobs not needed.9. High rate of on the job injuries.10.Highly gas contaminated air coming from the stacks of slaughter houses.
Please go to google and take the time to learn
everthing you need to know and have investigated. With all of this historic data available it is sheer madness for anyone to favor this plant. Oly West talks of “Hog Heaven” but it is “Hog Hell”
November 26, 2006 at 8:52 pm
Further to my letter of November 26, 2006 about Oly West, I would suggest that the only new business aceptable to Winnipeg be built in a section of town where there is a high rate of unempolyment and welfare.
The government should determine a minimum pay scale for full time workers,that will enable them to get off welfare and improve their standard of living.
Without the high cost of travel and time requirments to go to and from work, it would give them an oppurtunity to spend more time with their children, have more net income, the oppurtunity to allow spouses to double their income by working different shifts so one is home with the children. The time after their shift is over to secure part time work if desired, or get involved with their childre in normal after school activities. Poor people give up because they do not know how to move up the economic scale. It is government and busness men that must show them the way, the oppurtunities and how quickly they can achieve success. Currently many are depressed and have no future. The oppurtunity for a new and good future quickly wipes away depression and is replaced with hope.
November 26, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Further to my letter of November 26, 2006 about Oly West, I would suggest that the only new business aceptable to Winnipeg be built in a section of town where there is a high rate of unempolyment and welfare.
The government should determine a minimum pay scale for full time workers,that will enable them to get off welfare and improve their standard of living.
Without the high cost of travel and time requirments to go to and from work, it would give them an oppurtunity to spend more time with their children, have more net income, the oppurtunity to allow spouses to double their income by working different shifts so one is home with the children. The time after their shift is over to secure part time work if desired, or get involved with their childre in normal after school activities. Poor people give up because they do not know how to move up the economic scale. It is government and busness men that must show them the way, the oppurtunities and how quickly they can achieve success. Currently many are depressed and have no future. The oppurtunity for a new and good future quickly wipes away depression and is replaced with hope.
December 2, 2006 at 4:11 am
I am concerned that this site has only had 36 personal view points about Oly West. I am a member of the Reh-Fit which has about 4000 members and I visit former co-workers at the Health Science Centre where my previous position puts me in contact with about 300 people I know. I have not talked to anyone about Oly West who has not said they do not want them in Winnipeg. How do you advertise this site? Have you considered putting people in shopping malls,Wall Mart etc to ask customers to vote yes or no for Oly West to be allowed to establish their business in Winnipeg. It is alarming that everyone is against this and “everyone thinks it is a waste of time to express their self because they believe the deal is already cut.” This is true of almost everything they are not happy about.A loud public response is necessary if you want to feel more secure about winning.
December 15, 2006 at 7:42 pm
I’m against having it in Winnipeg and I believe they should just move it out of the city a bit. I don’t really see why they need to have it right in the city.
There’s also a topic about this on http://www.ewinnipeg.com, feel free to join in.
February 27, 2007 at 8:17 pm
I was doing a bit of a cleanup (pre-Spring) at my home, and came across quite a number of articles on the Hog Processing debate. It’s a pretty diverse collection, and if somebody is interested (or presently scrap-booking them…) I’d be happy to provide my small file to him/her.
Please let me know — It would be a shame to toss them…