As Manitoba's pork industry moves into a new year attention is expected to focus on maintaining biosecurity, improving communications with the public, addressing the ongoing challenges with regards to attracting workers and expanding hog production to meet processing capacity.

George Matheson, the Chair of Manitoba Pork, notes one of the big events of 2016 was the change in provincial government.

George Matheson-Manitoba Pork:

We've had good communication with this new government.

They seem to be able to meet with us quite regularly.

It's something that Manitoba Pork Council has always tried to attain and that is good communication with the provincial government and we've had quite a few meetings already with the new Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler, the Minister of Sustainability Cathy Cox and the Minister of Municipal Affairs Eileen Clarke.

All three of these handle departments that are integral to the pork industry.

Number one, we continue to try and have more new barns built in this province but the permitting process over the last few years has become increasingly complex.

The government has told us they will have a Red Tape Reduction Committee look at the permitting process for new hog barns in the province.

Ultimately our goal is to have producers have an easier time of it to get the construction of their new facilities under way.

Mr Matheson says Manitoba Pork feels this new government wants Manitoba to be open for business and is prepared to assist the pork industry in any way possible.