Last November the provincial government directed the Manitoba Clean Environment to examine the environmental sustainability of the province's hog industry and imposed a "temporary pause" on the development of expanded or new swine barn construction pending the completion of that investigation.

The process began in January with a series of public scoping meetings followed by public hearings during March and April.

Commission chair Terry Sargeant says the panel is currently receiving the results of contract research.

Terry Sargeant-Manitoba Clean Environment Commission

The research work is being done by a number of different organizations including the George Morris Centre at the University of Guelf, the University of Manitoba Faculty of Agriculture by a number of academics out there as well as by the International Institute for Sustainable Development here in Winnipeg and by one or two other consultants.

Specifically we asked the University of Manitoba to do a canvass of existing research to provide us with some advice on what the best scientific knowledge is on certain topics such as manure management, nutrient management, odour management, issues like that.

With the George Morris Centre we asked them just to give us a paper outlining some of the economics of the industry.

So that's the type of thing we've contracted.

The research as it comes in, at least in its final versions, has been and will continue to be posted on our web site and it's open for public comment.

The research conclusions, I should note, won't necessarily be part of our recommendations but they do form part of our deliberations on this subject.

Sargeant says the panel has now identified most if not all of the issues it will consider over the next few weeks and he remains hopeful the December target for having a final report and recommendations will be met.