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C.C.S.M. c. F45

The Farm Practices Protection Act

Table of contents

(Assented to June 24, 1992)

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

DEFINITIONS

Definitions

1

In this Act,

"agricultural operation" means an agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural or silvicultural operation that is carried on in the expectation of gain or reward, and includes

(a) the tillage of land,

(b) the production of agricultural crops, including hay and forages,

(c) the production of horticultural crops, including vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, sod, trees, shrubs and greenhouse crops,

(d) the raising of livestock, including poultry,

(e) the production of eggs, milk and honey,

(f) the raising of game animals, fur-bearing animals, game birds, bees and fish,

(g) the operation of agricultural machinery and equipment,

(h) the process necessary to prepare a farm product for distribution from the farm gate,

(i) the application of fertilizers, manure, soil amendments and pesticides, including ground and aerial application, and

(j) the storage, use or disposal of organic wastes for farm purposes; (« exploitation agricole »)

"board" means the Manitoba Farm Industry Board established by subsection 3(1) of The Family Farm Protection Act; (« Commission »)

"court" means the Court of Queen's Bench; (« tribunal »)

"land use control law" means any Act of the Legislature, regulation, plan or by-law that restricts or prescribes the use to which land or premises may be put or the nature of business or activities that may be carried on on any land or premises; (« loi de réglementation en matière d'utilisation du sol »)

"minister" means the member of the Executive Council charged by the Lieutenant Governor in Council with the administration of this Act; (« ministre »)

"normal farm practice" means a practice that is conducted

(a) in a manner consistent with proper and accepted customs and standards as established and followed by similar agricultural operations under similar circumstances, including the use of innovative technology used with advanced management practices, and

(b) in conformity with any standards set out in the regulations; (« pratique agricole normale »)

"person" includes an unincorporated association, partnership or cooperative. (« personne »)

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

PROTECTION FROM NUISANCE CLAIMS

Protection from nuisance claims

2(1)

A person who carries on an agricultural operation, and who, in respect of that operation,

(a) uses normal farm practices; and

(b) does not violate

(i) a land use control law,

(ii) The Environment Act or a regulation or order made under that Act, or

(iii) The Public Health Act or a regulation or order made under that Act;

is not liable in nuisance to any person for any odour, noise, dust, smoke or other disturbance resulting from the agricultural operation, and shall not be prevented by injunction or other order of a court from carrying on the agricultural operation because it causes or creates an odour, noise, dust, smoke or other disturbance.

Protection continues despite change in by-law, etc.

2(2)

Subsection (1) applies notwithstanding the occurrence of one or more of the following:

(a) the land use by-law of the municipality in which the agricultural operation is carried on changes or the agricultural operation becomes a non-conforming use;

(b) the ownership of the land on which the agricultural operation is carried on changes;

(c) the agricultural operation is carried on by other persons;

(d) the use of land near to the land on which the agricultural operation is carried on changes.

PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE BOARD

3(1) to (3)   [Repealed] S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

3(4)

[Repealed] S.M. 2001, c. 12, s. 2.

3(5)

[Repealed] S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

S.M. 2001, c. 12, s. 2; S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

4 and 5

[Repealed]

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

6(1)

[Repealed] S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

Information and representations from parties

6(2)

In any matter before it, the board shall give full opportunity to the parties to present information and make representations.

S.M. 2001, c. 12, s. 3; S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

Application of Family Farm Protection Act

6.1

When performing a duty or function or exercising a power under this Act, the board has the same powers as it has in its role under The Family Farm Protection Act.

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

7

[Repealed]

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

Board to conduct studies

8(1)

The minister may direct the board to study any matter related to farm practices and the board shall conduct the study and report its findings and recommendations to the minister.

8(2)

[Repealed] S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

Protection from liability

8.1

No action or proceeding may be brought against the board, a member or employee of the board or any other person acting under the authority of this Act for anything done or omitted to be done, in good faith, in the exercise or performance, or intended exercise or performance, of a power, function or duty under this Act or a regulation made under this Act.

S.M. 2005, c. 54, s. 2; S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

COMPLAINTS

Application for determination

9(1)

A person who is aggrieved by any odour, noise, dust, smoke or other disturbance resulting from an agricultural operation may apply in writing to the board for a determination as to whether the disturbance results from a normal farm practice.

Contents of application

9(2)

An application under subsection (1) shall contain a statement of the nature of the complaint, the name and address of the person making the application and the name and address of the agricultural operation, and shall be in a form acceptable to the board.

Notices

9(3)

The board may require that an applicant give written notice, in such form and manner that the board specifies, to the persons that the board specifies.

Parties

9(4)

The parties to an application are the applicant, the owner or operator of the agricultural operation and any person added as a party by the board.

No action commenced unless application made

9(5)

A person shall not commence an action in nuisance for any odour, noise, dust, smoke or other disturbance resulting from an agricultural operation unless the person has, at least 90 days previously, applied to the board under this section for a determination as to whether the disturbance complained of results from a normal farm practice.

Subsequent nuisance action not required

9(6)

A person may apply to the board for a determination under this section whether or not an action in nuisance is subsequently commenced.

Investigation and resolution of dispute

10

On receiving an application, the board may inquire into and endeavour to resolve a dispute between the aggrieved person and the owner or operator of the agricultural operation and may determine what constitutes a normal farm practice in respect of that agricultural operation.

Refusal to consider application

11(1)

The board may refuse to consider an application or to make a decision if in its opinion,

(a) the subject-matter of the application is trivial;

(b) the application is frivolous or vexatious or is not made in good faith; or

(c) the applicant does not have a sufficient personal interest in the subject-matter of the application.

Decision given to parties

11(2)

The board shall notify the parties of its refusal to consider an application or to make a decision under subsection (1), and give them written reasons for its action.

Decision of the board

12(1)

If the board is unable to resolve the dispute between the aggrieved person and the owner or operator of the agricultural operation, the board shall

(a) dismiss the complaint if the board is of the opinion that the disturbance complained of results from a normal farm practice; or

(b) order the owner or operator of the agricultural operation to cease the practice causing the odour, noise, dust, smoke or other disturbance if it is not a normal farm practice or to modify the practice in the manner set out in the order to be consistent with normal farm practices.

Decision given to parties

12(2)

The board shall give a copy of its decision to each of the parties together with written reasons for the decision.

Decision shall be considered by court

12(3)

A decision of the board under this section respecting an agricultural operation shall be considered by the court in any subsequent action in nuisance taken in respect of that operation.

Order of board may be filed in court

12(4)

Where a person has failed to comply with an order of the board made under subsection (1) and the time for an appeal against the order has expired, the board may file a copy of the order, certified by the chairperson or secretary of the board to be a true copy, in court.

Board may apply to court

12(5)

Upon filing under subsection 12(4), the order shall be deemed to be a judgment of the court in favour of the board and the board may apply to a judge of the court for an order requiring the person to comply with the judgment and the judge may also make one or more of the following orders:

(a) a contempt order against the person;

(b) an order respecting costs;

(c) any other order that may be necessary to give effect to the judgment or that the judge considers just.

S.M. 1997, c. 30, s. 3.

Appeal

13

Any party to an application may appeal an order of the board on a question of law to the court within 30 days after the making of the order.

Board may review orders

13.1(1)

Subject to subsection (5), the board may review an order it has made, if a party or another person who is affected by the order applies.

Disposition by the board

13.1(2)

After the review, the board may, by further order, dismiss the application or change, revoke or replace the order.

Membership of board on review

13.1(3)

The members of the board who review the order may be different from the members who made it.

Application of certain previous provisions

13.1(4)

Subsections 9(2) to (4) and sections 10 to 13 apply, with necessary changes, to an application or order made under this section.

Limitations on review power

13.1(5)

The board shall not review an order

(a) before the end of the appeal period set out in section 13;

(b) after an appeal has been made under section 13 but before it is determined or withdrawn; or

(c) after the order has been filed in court under subsection 12(4).

S.M. 2001, c. 12, s. 4.

Injunction proceedings in abeyance

14(1)

When an agricultural operation is the subject of an application under subsection 9(1), no injunction proceedings may be commenced or continued in respect of that agricultural operation until the board has made a decision under subsection 12(1) or has refused to hear the application.

Exception

14(2)

Subsection (1) does not apply to proceedings taken under The Environment Act or The Public Health Act.

DISESTABLISHMENT OF FORMER BOARD AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Definitions

14.1

The following definitions apply in this section and sections 14.2 to 14.6.

"current board" means the Manitoba Farm Industry Board established by subsection 3(1) of The Family Farm Protection Act. (« commission actuelle »)

"former Act" means this Act as it read immediately before the coming into force of this section. (« loi antérieure »)

"former board" means the Farm Practices Protection Board established by subsection 3(1) of the former Act. (« ancienne commission »)

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

Former board disestablished

14.2(1)

On the coming into force of this section,

(a) the former board is disestablished; and

(b) the appointments of the members of the former board are terminated, and all rights and obligations of the members in relation to or under those appointments are extinguished.

Limited continuation of former Act and board

14.2(2)

Despite subsection (1),

(a) the former Act continues in force; and

(b) the former board, consisting of the members of the board in office on the day before this section came into force, is continued;

to the extent necessary to permit the former board to complete any matter in relation to which it has heard or considered evidence or submissions before the coming into force of this section.

Other matters before the former board

14.2(3)

Except in the circumstances described in subsection (2), all matters before the former board when this section comes into force must be dealt with in accordance with this Act by the current board.

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

Legal proceeding or action by or against former board

14.3

A legal proceeding or action commenced by or against the former board may be continued by or against the current board as if it were the former board and the former Act were still in force.

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

Judicial review of decisions of former board

14.4

If a person commences a legal proceeding for judicial review of a decision or action of the former board, the proceeding must be taken against the current board.

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

Orders continued

14.5

All orders made by the former board before the coming into force of this section, but not yet expired or spent, are continued in force and may be enforced or otherwise dealt with by the current board as though they had been made by it.

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

Transitional regulations

14.6

The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations respecting any transitional or other problem resulting from the disestablishment of the former board.

S.M. 2013, c. 48, s. 8.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Regulations

15

The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations

(a) prescribing fees payable in respect of applications made under subsection 9(1) or 13.1(1);

(b) respecting the nomination and selection of acting members of the board;

(c) respecting standards for the purpose of the definition of "normal farm practice";

(c.1) respecting matters that the board must have regard to in determining what constitutes a normal farm practice for agricultural operations;

(d) respecting any other matter or thing necessary or advisable for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

S.M. 1997, c. 30, s. 4; S.M. 2001, c. 12, s. 5.

16

NOTE:  This section contained consequential amendments to The Nuisance Act which are now included in that Act.

C.C.S.M. reference

17

This Act may be cited as The Farm Practices Protection Act and referred to as chapter F45 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba.

Coming into force

18

This Act comes into force on a day fixed by proclamation.

NOTE:  S.M. 1992, c. 41 came into force by proclamation on January 31, 1994.