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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1981-04-08, Page 16H & N DAIRY SYSTEMS LTD. Sales, Service 8 Installation of pipelines & milking parlours R.R.4 WALTON 887-6063 tario's Tax Grants for Senior Citizens. 1981 installments have been mailed. Last year Ontario replaced its system of tax credits for seniors with a new program of Property and Sales Tax Grants. The Property Tax Grant of up to $500 is provided in two installments annually. The Sales Tax Grant is an automatic $50 paid each year to Ontario residents 65 and over. Property Tax Grants 0 Eligibility. If you're 65 or over and own or rent your home you're eligible for the Property Tax Grant of up to or$500. similar insti - If you reside in a nursing home, a home for the aged tution, you're not eligible for the Prop- erty Tax Grant unless you pay for the full cost of your care and the institu- tion pays municipal and school taxes. <> No Application Needed. If you qualified for the Property Tax Grant last year you'll automatically receive the April installment. This cheque, to a maximum of $2 50 will be half of last year's Grant. Your install- ment cheque was mailed April 6th.This is intended to assist you in paying your property tax or rent for the first pail of 1981. In the fall you'll automatically receive an application for the balance of your Grant 0 If you turned 65 after December 31, 1980 (and therefore did, not qualify for a Grant last year) you won't re- ceive the April installment. However, in the fall you'll receive an application for the entire 1981 Grant Sales Tax Grants An annual $50 Grant is paid auto- matically to every senior citizen. You will receive your 1981 Sales Tax Grant this fall Special' Note If you do not receive the federal Old Age Security Pension and you're 65 or over, please contact our Information Centre toll-free for de- tails on how to receive your Grants. <> In Metro Toronto, dial 965-8470. 0 In Area Code 807, ask the Operator for Zenith 8-2000. 0 In ail other areas, dial 1-80Q-268-71210 Ministry of Revenue tziet A16 — THE BRUSSELS POST, APRIL 8, 1981 MP s hear commodity groups' problems Continuing high interest rates, subsidies or the lack of them and quota policies were some of the issues raised by commodity groups at the members of parliament din- ner Saturday, sponsored by the. Huron County Federation of Agriculture. ' Gordon Hill, representing the Huron County Bean Committee, delivered pleas for continued funding of white bean research. He said Dr. John Aylesworth's retire- ment fromIthe Harrow Re- search Station had raised concern that this research wouldn't be continued. Huron-Bruce M.P. Murray Cardiff, himself a white bean producer, said he had checked with the Ministry of Agriculture recently, who told him an appointment would be made within the next two or three months to replace the veteran white bean re ,searcher. Mr. Hill told federation members the next, white bean payment to producers will be made at the end of April. He concluded his pre- sentation saying "Canada must have at least as good research support as we've had in the past to remain competitive in the world bean market." Warden Fred Habercr of Zurich pointed out jokingly that the best promotion for white beans- the Zurich Bean Festival- hadn't been men- tioned in Mr. Hill's brief. Jim Hunter, presenting the Huron County Milk Com- mittee's brief, said the ex- change system of buying and selling quota "has been well accepted by all producers apart from a few minor problems, which is to be expected when a new system is introduced." He said the milk produ- cers' promotional campaign in 1980 resulted in a seven per cent increase in butter sales alone. MP Cardiff asked Mr. Hunter and fellow committee member Jim Drennan about cheese factories not being able to obtain enough milk for their production needs. Mr. Drennan said, "we're producing all the cheese which can be used in Canada now," pointing out tariffs "hinder us from exporting more cheese." NDP agriculture critic Donald McDonald said he was tantalized by the pro- spects if Canada could mar- ket more of its high quality cheddar abroad. He said he is also painfully aware the milk industry is conscious of . pricing themselves out of the market. Mr. McDonald said the problem was once far- mers got an increase in price for their product, then the processors and retailers piggybacked their increase on top of it. He said 60 per cent of the increase in price went to them, rather than the farmer. HIGH INTEREST Neil Stapleton, represen- ting the Huron Cattlemen's Association, pointed out con- tinued high interest rates are still imposing a hardship on cattlemen, particularly feed- lot operators. He said two farmers in his neighbour- hood have recently gone out of business, which he blamed on interest rates. He pointed out while changes to the Bank Act are now law, so livestock pro- ducers have the same prior- ity protection afforded other producers of agricultural pro- ducts in the event packing plants go out of business, there's still a loophole to be filled, Mr. Stapleton said if the packer obtains his opera- ting credit under a floating debenture, this doesn't pro- vide any protection to the cattlemen selling his stock to that packer in the event of bankruptcy. Neil. Stapleton said the association is now working on an insurance plan to protect farmers when packers go out of business, which the packers don't fa- vour. Murray Cardiff, who sat on the Bank Act committee, said he was disappointed to learn the packers still found a way around the legislation. SELL TO OBEX,YARDS Gordon Hill pointed out if cattlemen sold to OBEX and the Ontario stockyards, they would be protected against the event of bankruptcies and asked why those cattle- men should have to pay for an insurance plan for their fellow cattlemen who choose to sell directly to packers. Mr. Stapleton said in spite of this, there was no opposition to the proposed insurance plan at the cattlemen's an- nual meeting. Joe Miller, speaking for the Huron County Pork Pro- ducers, reported at the an- nual meeting of the Ontario board, "it was very evident that many hog producers were in financial difficulties and looking for a different marketing system." He said supply management (quota) systems were introduced but defeated by small margins. On the county level, he said producers are concerned about competition from agri- business and feed companies raising hogs. The group passed a resolution "asking farmers to withdraw patron- age from these companies." Also, he said municipalities should took another look at their severance policies since "it is evident that the hog enterprise with a small land base is the first to encounter financial difficulties..." Mr. Miller also called for faster stabilization payments, as- sistance to young farmers and the establishment of land banks of those wanting to enter the farming busi- ness. MUST LOBBY Murray Cardiff reported that 94 per cent of the last hog stabilization claims have been paid by the federal government. MPP Murray Elston warned the federation and other farm groups must continue to actively lobby, since consumer groups are such a high profile lobby. OFA vice-president Ron White said the real lobby must be at the local level with private members, He said it was easier for the OFA to lobby when they had a minority government in office, both provincially and federally, He said, "the methods we use as lobbyists will be very important in getting our message across." Bill Scott, representing the Huron County Egg Pro, ducers, reported that devel- opment of an export market for eggs has been a slow process. While CEMA has made some sales to the Middle East, it was at "a substantial loss." Also, he said a recent survey in Ontario shows that small to medium-sized pro- ducers are paying more for quota than the larger egg producers. He said in the past year, the number of producers has decreased by 48 farmers, or about five per cent, "not the drastic de- crease that was predicted by some a year ago." Last week, Mr. Scott reported, quota sales were stopped, and in the future the board will buy paper quota and distribute it equally to those who apply for more quota. When asked how younger farmers would get into the egg industry, Mr. Scott said most egg producers operate family farms, which implies there are sons and daughters to take over. He added since the government hasn't con- tributed financially to egg production perhaps it could make low interest loans a- vailable to young farmers. He concluded by pointing out most egg producers now aren't operating to full capa- city in their hen houses. The 4-H Club Leaders Associations brief was pre- sented by Ken Mewhinney, who said "We're about the only commodity group in the county without any problems• right now." Pointing out there are 373 members en- rolled in 32 clubs across the county, he said two new clubs, the South Huron Snowmobile Club and Zurich Horse Club were introduced in 1980. He also advised politicians that the decision to allow 11-year-old 4-H members has been a success, "We have found that these members can handle the work that regular 4-H members can do and, in some cases, do a better job, particularly in keeping records, than some of our seniors." A Post Classified will pay you dividends. Have you tried one? Dial Brussels 887-6641. J.E. LONGSTAFF -OPTOMETRIST- SEAFORTH 527.1240 Monday to Friday 9-5:30 Saturday 9-12:00 FREE PARKING ON PREMISES Closed Wednesdays By Appointment