Anti-slaughterhouse group demands referendum

Carl Hager

Six protesters showed up at Shawville’s monthly council meeting on Tuesday, March 23, to ask council to rescind their decision allowing the recently announced abattoir. The group want residents of Shawville to vote on the issue in a referendum.

Two main objections to the abattoir were stated:  they claim the abattoir will be too close to town, which will negatively impact property values; they also claim the Halal method used to kill the animals is inhumane.

Robert Hodgins spoke on behalf of the group; he read a statement summarizing all their issues and distributed an outline to council and those attending the meeting.

The points raised included questions about environmental assessments and up-to-date environmental certificates for the location; the impact of the project on the local community, including property values; any infrastructure modifications required and who will pay for them; what benefit will the facility be to local farmers; i.e., would they have access to the site; and what kind and how many jobs are anticipated? During the presentation, Lloyd Hodgins, a local businessman, was vehement in expressing his negative opinion that the abattoir was likely to cut the value of his property in half.

The group wants Will Amos, MP and André Fortin, MNA to come to a public meeting to outline all the grants and loans promised to the abattoir. Hodgins asked, “How can government money be given to a privately owned company that will compete with existing abattoir?”

Council responds

Sandra Murray, mayor of Shawville, stated that ten years ago a special 20-year borrowing by-law was passed, paid by residents at $29 per year, for infrastructure improvements; it is shown on the local tax bill as a waste-water tax. The improvements include the sewage and water infrastructure necessary for the abattoir as well as for the Pontiac hospital.

 Murray also stressed that “nothing about this project has been done in secret,” noting that the project has been in demand for over 30 years, and has gone through several studies before receiving approval by the council as well as federal and provincial authorities. At the end of the meeting, she refused the request for a referendum, concluding, “If people have objections to eating beef, they should become vegans!”

Halal slaughter methods

In order for meat to be considered “halal”, a trained Muslim inspector is responsible to ensure that the animals are properly slaughtered; they must check all aspects, including storage, display, preparation, hygiene and sanitation. It has also been said that halal is the least painful method of slaughter if the correct measures are undertaken.

Andrew Simms, a sheep producer in Bristol with over 200 ewes, is very much in favour of the new slaughterhouse.  Currently he has to drive to Thurso to have his lambs slaughtered and butchered.  “That’s a three-hour return trip,” he said.  “It’s 10 minutes to Shawville!” He also noted that the facility in Thurso is a clean, well run place. “There is absolutely no smell and no sound from the animals. You wouldn’t know it was there, aside from the sign on the road.  We need more entrepreneurs like Mr Lauzon, in the Pontiac.  I will be more than happy to take my animals there and wish him the best of luck.”  

Information meeting requested

The Bulletin has confirmed a compromise resolution was passed later in the council meeting, asking the owner of the slaughterhouse to hold a general meeting to answer questions the community may have about the project. Alain Lauzon, the promoter, was unavailable for comment at press time.