Bill 123 2003

An Act to control
mega-hog farms

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Application

1. (1) This Act applies to mega-hog farms.

Definition

(2) In this Act,

"mega-hog farm" means a hog farm where at any one time at least,

(a) 250 sows with offspring in a farrow to finish operation are present,

(b) 3,000 weaners in a hot nursery operation are present, or

(c) 2,500 hogs in a finish operation are present.

Official plan

2. All mega-hog farms shall be identified as industrial purposes for the purpose of the official plan of the municipality where the mega-hog farm is located.

Mega-hog farm not normal farm practice

3. The operation of a mega-hog farm is not a normal farm practice for purposes of the Farming and Food Production Protection Act, 1998.

Environmental assessment

4. The owner of a mega-hog farm shall ensure that an environmental assessment report of the farm is completed by a consultant recognized by the Ministry of the Environment.

Conflict

5. In the event of a conflict between a municipal by-law that applies to a mega-hog farm and a provision under any Act, the provision that provides the greater protection to the environment or reduces disturbances or nuisances to a greater degree prevails.

Commencement

6. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

7. The short title of this Act is the Mega-Hog Farm Control Act, 2003.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill deems mega-hog farms to be identified as industrial purposes for the purposes of the official plan of the municipality where the farm is located. Owners of mega-hog farms are required to ensure that an environmental assessment of the farm is completed. The operation of a mega-hog farm is not a normal farm practice under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act, 1998.