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S.M. 1992, c. 41

The Farm Practices Protection and Consequential Amendments 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 Farm Practices Protection Board established under section 3; («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»)

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.

FARM PRACTICES PROTECTION BOARD

Farm Practices Protection Board established

3(1)

The "Farm Practices Protection Board" is established and shall consist of not less than three members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Chairperson and vice-chairperson

3(2)

The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall designate one of the members of the board as chairperson and another as vice-chairperson.

Duties of chairperson

3(3)

The chairperson is responsible for the general supervision and direction of the conduct of the affairs of the board and, if he or she is absent or unable to act, the vice-chairperson shall have the powers of the chairperson.

Term of members

3(4)

The members of the board shall be appointed for a term not exceeding four years and may be re-appointed, but no member shall hold office for more than eight years, whether the appointments are for consecutive terms or not.

Remuneration and expenses

3(5)

The members of the board shall be paid such remuneration and receive such expenses as the Lieutenant Governor in Council determines.

Acting board members

4(1)

The minister may from time to time nominate one or more persons from among whom acting members of the board may be selected.

Selection of acting board members

4(2)

When in the opinion of the chairperson it is necessary or desirable for the proper performance of the board's duties, the chairperson may select not more than three persons nominated under subsection (1) as acting members of the board for a period of time or for the purpose of any matter before the board.

Powers and duties of acting member

4(3)

An acting member has and may exercise and perform the powers and duties of a member of the board.

Remuneration and expenses

4(4)

An acting member is entitled to be paid such remuneration and receive such expenses as the minister determines.

Quorum

5

Three members of the board, of whom at least two are members appointed under subsection 3(1), constitute a quorum and are sufficient for the exercise of all of the jurisdiction and powers of the board.

Procedure

6

The board may determine its own practice and procedure but shall give full opportunity to the parties to present information and make representations.

Part V of Evidence Act powers

7

The members of the board have the powers of commissioners under Part V of The Manitoba Evidence Act.

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.

Professional assistance

8(2)

The board may appoint one or more persons having technical or special knowledge of any matter to assist the board in any capacity in respect of a matter before it.

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 may 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.

Enforcement of order

12(4)

An order made by the board under this section may be filed in the court and enforced as if it were a judgment of the court.

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.

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.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Regulations

15

The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations

(a) prescribing fees payable in respect of an application made under subsection 9(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";

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

Consequential amendment, C.C.S.M. c. N120

16

The definition "business" in section 1 of The Nuisance Act is amended by adding ", other than an agricultural operation under The Farm Practices Protection Act," after "operation".

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.