PUBLISHED BY MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS
MARCH 2024
Shaun Haney of RealAgriculture.com touched on politics, policy and production as part of his keynote address during the 45th Annual General Meeting, Tradeshow and President’s Banquet. More coverage of the AGM can be found inside this edition of the newspaper while photos from the event are available across the MBP social media channels. (Photo credit: Rob Lovatt/ Keywest Photo image by design inc.)
RCMP Livestock Investigators Have Skills and Experience to Deal With Livestock Crime Wildlife was a recurring theme at the recent Manitoba Beef Producers AGM, whether it was issues around problem predators like wolves and coyotes or concerns with damage to crops and livestock and inconsistency with compensation programs. Several of the resolutions passed at the AGM were related to these ongoing issues, including an MBP board of directors resolution that recommended MBP continue to work with industry partners and the provincial government to develop a traceability app for cattle operations to help with needed information sharing, and to create a Livestock Investigations Unit in Manitoba to help reduce livestock-related crime. In speaking to the resolution, Mary Paziuk of District 13 spoke to the RCMP’s general lack of knowledge about livestock and the importance of having people who are familiar and trained to deal with livestock issues.
Corporal Owen Third couldn’t agree more. In his presentation about his role as an RCMP Livestock Investigator based in Saskatchewan, he acknowledged that many local detachment members do not have specialized training to deal with livestock issues. “In a lot of cases, knowledge is an issue, so not only knowledge investigating livestock matters, but just the industry itself can be tricky for a lot of our RCMP,” Third said. “We have recruits that maybe don’t have a farming background; they don’t know the difference between a heifer and a steer.” Frustrating for producers That lack of livestock knowledge and experience can cause frustration for producers who have a complaint. “You want someone to help you with your concern and know exactly what you are talking about,” Third said. That’s where Third comes in. He is well qualified for his job, having been a farmer, then working for the Credit Union system for 15 years before joining the police force at the age of 32.
“After my detachment work for four years, my Credit Union experience allowed me to get into the plain clothes area, dealing with financial crimes, and believe it or not, paper cows were an issue 14 years ago,” he said. “Livestock has always been an issue when it comes to investigating some of these crimes.” Third is one of only four RCMP Livestock Investigators in Canada and his role is to work directly with producers, as well as support RCMP detachments that have reports of livestock crime. “My role in Saskatchewan is to provide investigative support to all of our detachments,” he says. “Anyone with livestock or ag-related issues can reach out to myself, and I will follow up and provide guidance and assistance on those files. I want to make sure that the producer’s concern is addressed, because in some cases our busy detachments are dealing with person crimes, assaults, and that sort of thing.” page 4
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BY ANGELA LOVELL