WinTERFEST RAiSES cASH FoR kidS A25
FEBRUARY 27, 2013
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ScHoolS mEET To PlAY BAll A24
The 100 Mile Performing Arts Society’s stage production of The Wizard of Oz opens this week at Martin Exeter Hall. Munchkins, Sophie Jensen, left, Emily Paterson, Mia Weir and Courtenay Cave, back, help light up the stage with their beaming smiles and colourful costumes. See page A15 for more photos as well as the March 1 edition of the Cariboo Connector.
Meat slaughter returns to South Cariboo Ranchers rejoice at abattoir gift from government
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opinion A8 letters A9 entertainment B3 sports A23 community B1 classifieds A27
The voice of the South Cariboo since 1960 How to reach us: Ph: 250-395-2219 Fax: 250-395-3939 www.100milefreepress.net mail@100milefreepress.net
carole Rooney Free Press
After several years of intensive lobbying efforts, the South Cariboo has finally secured a local meat abattoir for provincially-inspected, red-meat slaughter. Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick announced the news in the District of 100 Mile House council chambers on Feb. 22. The abattoir will reinstate a local capacity for licensed slaughter of beef, lamb, pork and goat. Letnick said it can facilitate processing up to eight head of cattle each day. While it is a mobile unit, the abattoir will be permanently installed at a local facility, he explained, such as a facility already offering cut-andwrap services.
“It’s yours for as long as you need She added the unit is already conit.” structed and she will ensure it gets Letnick attributed it to the installed before this May’s election. hard work and lobbying efforts of “We’ll have it in eight or 10 weeks.” Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna The abattoir will mean “success” Barnett, who along with local slaugh- for local producers, she explained, ter advocates Christine and allows smallFor the South er operations with Jordaan and Diane Cariboo, this job-subsidized incomes Wood, approached him is wonderful to continue producing shortly after he became news. agriculture minister last locally and retain their fall. land in the Agriculture – Donna Barnett “The case was very Land Reserve. compelling. The costs Barnett was a little to local farmers were much higher, choked up when she talked about as compared to other places, and it what it would mean to her constituwas also a cost in the [transporta- ents, more than 600 of whom sent tion-related] distress to the animals.” her letters in support of local slaughBarnett said the current transport ter capacity. expense is “exorbitant” and every “For the South Cariboo, this is animal moved also loses weight wonderful news.” from the stress. The abattoir will belong to a
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community association (yet to be identified) that will be responsible for operating costs, which can be recouped from user fees, Letnick explained. Barnett passed on much of the credit to Jordaan and Wood, who have been key in various proposals put forward during the past several years and lobbied extensively to promote the need for local red-meat slaughter. Letnick noted 100 Mile House is the only British Columbia community that will get a permanently installed, mobile red-meat abattoir initially, but upon its full implementation, other communities may apply for one if they can demonstrate a similar need and meet criteria. Continued on A4