Glavine: NDP Late Delivering Mink Farm Regulations
Liberal agriculture critic Leo Glavine says the NDP government is late delivering their promised mink farm regulations and this puts municipalities, the industry, and those concerned about its sustainability at a disadvantage.
“Mink farming is currently the largest agricultural industry in Nova Scotia – there are 150 registered farmers in Nova Scotia and the fur industry is worth $100 million annually to the provincial economy,” says Glavine. “The government’s inability to produce regulations in a timely manner puts everyone involved at a disadvantage.”
Glavine believes stronger regulations will be able to address the environmental concerns about the industry. Unfortunately the NDP government has sat on draft regulations for more than a year now.
“People are concerned about how the industry handles waste management and those concerns are certainly valid,” says Glavine. “Regulations need to address these concerns because environmental sustainability is the only way to ensure the long-term economic sustainability of this industry.”
Glavine says the industry needs clear, stable regulation so their businesses can adapt and adhere to government policy.
“Mink farmers now have to adapt to the new policies developed by municipalities and they must do so while waiting for further regulation from the province,” says Glavine. “The regulations should have been produced when originally promised – now we just need to get them to the public and the industry.”
“This kind of inaction and heel dragging on a file this important, economically significant, and environmentally sensitive is unacceptable – we need action and regulation now.”
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