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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-04-16, Page 29Federation's Finance Committee takes hard line with area politicians The Finance Committee of the Huron County Federation of Agri- culture took a hard line with local political representatives when it presented its brief to the Federa- tion's Member of Parliament dinner in Clinton on Saturday. Paul Klopp, chairman of the committee, in a long brief called on Ontario Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell to take stronger action to stop large corporate ownership of farms. "You have said that the 20 per cent surcharge has stopped foreign owners from buying huge parcels of land without living on it, which it possibly has, but large food companies have been buying farms and producing their own crops or livestock on them." He supported legislation similar to that passed in Saskatchewan which prevents such firms from owning more than 20 acres of land. In answering, Mr. Riddell said that the 20 per cent surcharge has kept foreign owners from speculat- ing so much on land. If they are going to buy now they are going to live on the land, he said. He also pointed out that there are some rather large farming corporations that are made up of 10 or 15 members of the same family Mr. Klopp took on Murray Cardiff, M.P. saying "a common problem is wondering just where you stand on the issues affecting our rural communities." He challenged free trade saying "Groups such as the Huron County Federation of Agriculture who are concerned about people rather than just profits, don't think it's such a good idea." "Big business' idea of free trade is dumping their products into another country and driving prices down, forcing domestic producers to quit, leaving them (the big businesses) controlling the mar- ket." Such action in Canada would leave the country at the mercy of the multinationals, he said. He sited books like The Mer- chants of Grain and Hunger of Justice that pointed out that 90 per cent of world grain trade is controlled by six companies. Mr. Cardiff said he didn't believe in "free trade" but in fair trade. If it's not a good deal for Canada it won't be made, he said. He said the U.S. Farm Bill is a concern but that in other programs like the Payment in Kind program there have been benefits for Canada and he felt we should be looking to the advantages for Canada in the new legislation. Mr. Klopp's brief attacked the commodity price -based mortgage plan announced by the govern- ment saying it could hurt rather than help farmers. Mr. Cardiff defended the pro- gram saying it was never intended asasubsidytofarmers,justas a way to postpone payments. Jack Wilkinson, vice-president of the Ontario Federation, said that when farmers sign these loans they sign up front for the full interest Serving The Farmers Of This Area For Over 20 Years. maakitt or;iik) WE FEELWE HAVE THE TOP LINES TO LOOK AFTER YOUR REQUIREMENTS. BUTLER- HOULE - FARMATIC WESTEEL ROSCOE- CLAY - WIC - the leader in silo unloaders, feeders, manure pumps, on farm electronic scales (eligible for Red Meat grant programme) recognized as the equipment to beat in liquid manure handling as well as barn cleaners - tops in feed processing and handling Grain bins M -C dryers, aeration equipment for aerating your grain parts and service feed carts, straw choppers, liquid manure spreaders, hay dryer fans ALLTYPES OF VENTILATING EQUIPMENTAND STABLING LET US GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE ON YOUR 1986 REQUIREMENTS "WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL" Zres 4044V 7440t S�tem R. R. 1 KINCARDINE, ONTARIO ze NOG 2GO 395-5286 AMBERLEY rate, then sign a second agreement to put it on a commodity price - basis. Mr. Klopp's brief called for implementation of a new version of the Farm Creditors Arrangement Act but Mr. Riddell stepped in to defend the federal government on that point. He said that at a federal -provincial meeting of agri- culture ministers, only Manitoba supported debt review boards with teeth. To his surprise the western ministers were against the pro- gram, he said. Many farmers as well as banks got hurt when the legislation was used in the 1930's to reduce mortgages. It wasn't just the banks but also Credit Unions that could be hurt today, he said. He had been interested in the Manitoba minister's proposal, Mr. Riddell said, which would have set aside the accumulated interest on the loans above the 8 per cent interest rate because of the abnormal interest rates that had helped farmers get into trouble in the first place. None of the other ministers had been interested, he said. But too tough action by the government could hurt farmers in the long run, he argued. Fie said insurance companies had once provided funds for farm financing but after imposition of the Farm Creditors Arrangement Act they had pulled out of the farm financing market. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1986. PAGE 29. HONDA MADE IT THE HARD WAY: YARD BY YARD We've put all the experience gained over thousands of yards into Honda's new HTR 3009. The 8.5 h.p. four-stroke engine mounted mid -ship for optimum balance and 30 inch cutting deck. Built in safety features. HONDAu Lynn Hoy Enterprises Ltd. Hwy. N. 86 East, Wingham Ph. 357-3435 Power Equipment WE'LL GIVE YOUR FIELDS THE CUSTOM TREATMENT. By letting us give your fields a custom fertilizer application, you'll save valuable time during the spring rush, and you'll save on labor and fuel costs, too. 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