P.E.I. Hog Board vows to try again for Charlottetown plant

The chair of the P.E.I. Hog Marketing Board says he's disappointed the province has rejected the board's proposal to take over the regional hog processing plant in Charlottetown, but he's not giving up.

Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan said the proposal presented by the board didn't contain new money from producers and wasn't viable.

The board feels the money put on the table by the producers was considerable in light of the current economic and market conditions for farmers, who are losing more than $60 a head, board chair Anthony Nabuurs told CBC News Wednesday.

At this time, the board does not feel that increasing its offer is within its means and is considering its options.
 
"You put forth a proposal, and not necessarily is it going to be accepted the way you put it forward," said Nabuurs.

"We thought it was realistic and … we're hopeful now that we can decide what to do next based on the outcome … Things are changing so fast daily here that you can't even keep up. What was realistic two days ago may not be now."

Nabuurs said he believes the province will give the board a chance to respond. He described the rejection as a setback and said the board will meet again over the next couple of days to decide what to do next.

The plant went into receivership in January when the province called in a loan from its owners, the Natural and Organic Food Group Inc., which included a Quebec company and a few Island farmers.

It is currently being operated by the province, but the government said it is not interested in running the plant in the long term and a buyer must be found.