Abattoir must go forward

Dear sir:
The need for an abattoir in Rainy River District existed the day the last one that was here closed its doors. This has affected all types of livestock that would be processed in such a facility.
Our area is losing millions of dollars annually because of this current beef crisis—money that we cannot spend among each other here.
The ramifications are the loss of everything this community requires to make it strong, healthy, and vibrant. To name a few: jobs, people, your children’s future, better quality of life, the economic health of all other business, and on and on.
There are roughly 24,000 head of cattle in Rainy River District, which are made up of bulls, cows, calves, steers, and heifers. Basically half of that total revolves every year.
There also is other livestock, such as buffalo and elk, as well as horses, pigs, sheep, and more.
For an individual or individuals to take on the task to build a desperately-needed abattoir here in Rainy River District is not a small matter. Whether this be a federally-built plant run provincially or a provincially-run plant built federally, the basic construct of either are almost identical.
What gets built is not a band-aid solution by any means. Members and the directors of the Rainy River District Cattlemen’s Association are well aware of all that is involved and the processes that are required to get an abattoir up and running here.
What we need is the absolute willingness of all the necessary agencies that will be involved to work together to make this abattoir go forward and be built.
We needed this abattoir years ago—and moreso now. There is much more that could be said.
The Rainy River District Cattlemen’s Association would like to thank the Fort Frances Times and the rest of the media for keeping this issue on the forefront; this helps. We have much information to offer on this subject so keep the ink flowing.
Canadians have been very supportive of the beef industry; we definitely appreciate their unwavering help.
We have lost two-thirds of our earnings. In the meantime, the cost of everything we need to purchase has increased dramatically.
The sad thing is as the beef industry, and agriculture in general, declines, we and our children are—and will be—coming after the fewer and fewer jobs that employ the rest of the citizens of this country.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter Spuzak, President
Rainy River District
Cattlemen’s Association