Proposed pharmaceutical plant near Bird’s Hill Provincial Park causing concern from residents

Residents who live near Bird’s Hill Park are opposing a proposed pharmaceutical plant to be constructed near the provincial park’s entrance.

Mittal Canada Pharmaceuticals are looking to build the plant outside of Winnipeg off Highway 59 in the RM of St. Clements. The plant, which would range between 15,000 and 20,000 square feet, would manufacture pharmaceutical drugs, such as insulin and naloxone.

A petition was launched April 3, by residents, and has received just under 1,100 signatures as of Tuesday morning.

“Our backyards, where we enjoy peaceful moments with family and friends, will be overshadowed by this massive plant,” the petition reads. “Our commute to work will become more hazardous due to increased traffic from heavy vehicles associated with the factory operations. The streets where our children and grandchildren play freely may no longer be safe or quiet.”

The petition said residents are also concerned about the proximity to the provincial park, and the possible impact on air quality and water quality.

"It's a nice, quiet country setting," said area resident Jeff Barrett who was walking his dog in the proposed area.

"There's plenty of animals and space and hard working families in the neighbourhood."

He said there are many people, like him, who take their dogs to walk in the area, calling it a convenient location.

A video on Mittal Canada’s website about the proposed project said the location was chosen as it had what they were looking for, including easy access to market routes.

“With well-connected road networks, our location features a hassle-free daily commute for our future workforce, promoting productivity and employee satisfaction,” the video state, adding that the site offers “robust sewer infrastructure”, which is crucial for wastewater management.

Colin Zelinsky, another resident, said the proposed location isn't right.

"In our backyards, in this beautiful community, so close to the Birds Hill Provincial Park," said Zelinsky.

Residents found out about the proposal last week after a flyer was left in their mailboxes, and a meeting put on by Mittal did not calm people's concerns.

"At a venue that was not even close to being able to sustain the amount of people that were in attendance. It was spilling out the door. Not many answers were really provided to us."

The new plant is not a done deal, and would need to be approved by the RM of St. Clements before construction. The proposed section of land for the plant would also have to rezoned from agriculture to industrial.

"The key here is that this is our backyard, and would you want it in your backyard?" asked Barrett. "And B, the process so far, which it's taken, just seems a little underhanded."

CTV Winnipeg has reached out to Mittal for comment.