HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-11-26, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1986.
Support Federation, Pyke tells
McKillop Twp. farmers
In order to have an effective
voice in the future of Canadian
agriculture, farmers must be
prepared to commit their support
to their Federation of Agriculture,
as well as to be prepared to endure
a little short-term pain for long
term gain.
That was the message from
Brigid Pyke, first vice-president of
the Ontario Federation of Agricul
ture and contender for president
Harry Pelissero’s crown at this
week’s OFA convention, speaking
to a packed audience at the
McKillop Federation of Agricul
ture annual meeting and dinner in
St. Columban on November 18.
Speaking without notes, she told
the predominantly farmer audi
ence that although the OFA can
count only 24,000 members, it
continually lobbies on behalf of all
Ontario farmers, and needs the
support of them all in order to wield
the maximum clout with govern
ment.
“Some people think the OFA
deals only with farm problems and
problem farmers,” she said, ‘‘and
when you get into this sort of
bunker mentality, it’s hard to see
anything hopeful at all.”
‘‘Butthatthe Federation exists,
and that so many are willing to give
so much time to trying to find
solutions, is an indication that
there are solutions (to farm
problems.)”
As an example of how the
Federation works for all farmers,
Ms. Pyke told of the organization’s
recent meeting with federal fin
ance minister Michael Wilson,
lobbying for the retention of the
Investment Tax Credit legislation.
McKillop
Federation
names
executive
The executive and line directors
of the McKillop Twp. Federation of
Agriculture were elected at the
organization’s annual meeting in
St. Columban on November 18.
Past president of the Huron
Federation Doug Garniss conduct
ed the election.
Leon Maloney of RR 1, Dublin
was elected president, replacing
Bill Murray, of RR 5, Dublin, who
declined to stand for a second term.
Ken Scott of RR 2, Seaforth was
re-elected to the position of first
vice-president, and will serve as
the township’s delegate to the
county federation.
TomRyanofRRl.Dublinwas
elected second vice-president after
Francis Hunt of RR 4, Walton
declined a nomination from the
floor.
Christa Eckert of RR 1, Seaforth,
was re-appointed secretary
treasurer by the new executive.
Line directors were elected as
follows: Concession 1, McKillop
Twp., Kevin Kale, RR 5, Seaforth,
and Andrew Davidson, RR 2,
Seaforth; Cone. 2 and 3, Ken Scott
and Bill Murray; Cone. 4 and 5,
Leon Maloney and Francis Hick-
nell, RR 5, Seaforth; Cone. 6 and 7,
Tom Ryan and Brad Campbell, RR
1, Dublin; Cone. 8 and 9, Art
Bolton, and Wayne Hoegy, both
RR 1, Dublin; Cone. 10 and 11,
Bruce Whitemore, RR 4, Walton,
and Francis Hunt; Cone. 12and 13,
Bob Robinson, RR 4, Walton; and
Cone. 14, Mervin Smith, RR 1,
Walton.
Brigid Pyke, first vice-president
of the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture and contender for the
president’s seat at the election this
week, was the guest speaker. She
congratulated the township feder
ation on an excellent turnout to its
annual meeting, saying “It’s good
to see an organization this active.”
“Hehasa'hitlist’ of options,
with an ‘either/or’ choice attach
ed: would you rather lose this or
that? One of the things on this list is
the ITC,” she explained.
She said that since Canadian
farmers use 80 per cent of all the
ITCgranted, ifthelegislationis
cancelled, it will “suck $100
million a year right out of your
pockets. ”
Later.inanswertoa question
from Walton-area farmer Mervin
Smith about the distribution of $1
billion in farm aid recently promis
ed by federal Minister of Agricul
ture John Wise, she said that the
OFA had come out strongly in
support of aid to all grain farmers,
including feed producers.
‘.‘I think our position on this
really shook him,” she said.
She warned farmers that if the
OFA was to continue as a powerful
organization, it would have to
receive better funding from its
members, in terms of a higher
annual membership fee.
She said that the OFA is facing
an overall deficit of more than
$200,000 this year, brought about
by $33,000 less income and
$153,000 more in expenses than
had been projected, but added that
if the membership fee had been
raised by only $5 per member for
the past two years, the revenue
generated would have surpassed
$237,000, more than enough to
cover the present debt.
She also told farmers that the
Ontario Farm Machinery Agency,
a subsidiary wholly owned by the
OFA for the purpose of supplying
machiner parts to members at a
competitive retail rate, currently
owes the OFA more than $115,000,
and that members had a “use it or
lose it’’ choice in regard to the
service.
If elected president at this
week’s convention in Toronto, Ms.
Pyke indicated that she would
support a resolution from Essex
County calling for a major re-struc-
turing of the OFA by calling for the
organization to select only three
major issues each year to deal with,
delegating lesser issues to commit
tees.
That resolution, she pointed out,
is an indication of how frustrated
farmers are with the present
structure of the federation. “They
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feel we are spread too thin - that we
are unable (under the present
structure) to hit the topics that
count with enough strength.”
She also said that she would fully
support the debt review issue,
insistingthatifthe government
Debt Review Board proves ineffec
tive, the OFA “would have no
choice but to continue to press for
changes to the Federal Bankruptcy
Act, to change the way people go
broke.”
‘ ‘I find it unacceptable that farm
assets can be sold at 50 cents on the
dollar, with the bankrupt farmer
having no opportunity to buy these
assets back at that level,’’ she
declared.
Ms. Pyke made no apology for
openly running for election against
the incumbent president, an action
that has caused some controversy
at the federal executive level.
“1 think that people have to
realize that (an open election) is a
good thing, so they can talk about
the issues and decide which
direction they want the federation
to go, not just get down to it the
night before the election.”
The OFA convention takes place
November 24 - 26. Christa Eckert,
secretary-treasurer of the McKil
lop Federation, said Friday, her
directors have not expressed a
preference for either candidate at
this point.
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