The annual general meeting of the Huron Bruce NDP Association is set to go but it’s quickly turning into a public meeting on the future of small abbatoirs.
Association President Willi Laurie says the general meeting is scheduled for tonight in Wingham, but as they prepared to have a special speaker, it became apparent people wanted to talk about the future of abbatoirs.
Laurie says it came about as organizers talked about the “Foods of Remedy.”
She says “Foods of Remedy” is being able to decide where your food comes from and what’s in your food, and being able to choose.
Laurie says such a concept will be lost if abbatoirs in small communities are forced to close down.
She says governments are judging small operations the same as the large operations and it’s literally putting the small meat processor out of business because of cost.
Laurie says one small abbatoir operator was instructed to change some shelving in its facility to the tune of 150 thousand dollars.
However, there was no government grant money to assist the meat processor so it was either pay the full shot or close down.
Laurie says many similar operators face the same type issues throughout many rural regions.
Laurie wonders if the abbatoirs close down then where to the deer hunters for instance take their venison to be processed.
She wonders if the hunters will stop hunting or would they prepare their own meat under less than sanitary conditions.
Tonight’s meeting begins at 7 PM at the Columbus Centre in Wingham and everyone is invited.
Following the discussion on the state of abbatoirs in rural areas, the NDP will hold their annual general meeting.
Willi Laurie is expected to be returned as President of the association.