Manitoba Pork is welcoming the Government of Manitoba’s recent commitment to repealing the Manitoba Farm Building Code, and amending the Manitoba Building Code by adding specific provisions for farm buildings.

The organization says the current farm building code is based on a commercial industrial standard and is not appropriate for low-occupancy farm buildings such as barns.

Chair George Matheson says the changes will save money while maintaining safety.

“We expect as a result producers will save tens of thousands of dollars building barns,” he commented. “It will help our industry stay competitive with other jurisdictions and we will still be maintaining a high safety standard to protect our farm workers and livestock."

Some of the changes, according to Matheson, include the size and number of doors, emergency exits and the elimination of a fire pond.

He notes the changes are just another example of what the provincial government is doing to eliminate unnecessary red tape.