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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1981-04-08, Page 2Q ;J • 981 • inflation is . to increase interest rates,, but levelled most of his criticism at the provincialgovernment for failing to assist the farmer. He said in Quebec, the govern- anent set ;,aside $67' million to offset high interest rates, whereas the Ontario govern- ment made only $2.5 million available to fanners. He said only S5 million of that was claimed `by farmers.: Mr. McDonald added, "if:.you : think Quebec had in in advantage. over Ontario now, it's :going to be iniiinitely...grreater after this. election. (in Quebec).'• He said the .parties are outbidding each other in offersto that province's agrilcutral community. He told the farmers it isn't that Ontario doesn't have the money, since "if you can` hand out multi-million dollar grants to companies like "Ford and Chrysler", . then the : funds are there, but aren't being made available to the farm , industry. Tony McQuail; .speaking for the Huron County Energy Committee, said 'the federa- tion is concerned "while Ontario Hydro appears to . mounting a.. promotional cam- paign paign for new corridors, it has not yet ,:released its South Western Ontario study which wasto be released at the end of October, 1980.:W: believe this study should be released immdiay tel so that the farm community can have adequate time to examine Hydro's plans." Industrial Park The committee also expressed concern. about a change in direction'. "which .appears to be taking place at. the Bruce Agri -Park program." Mr.. McQuail said ` emphasis seems to be shifting to an "Industrial Park'', that will be cliverting divertinghigh quality steam before it drives the electrical turbines, which means it's "no longer a project using "waste" heat." Both Mr. McQuail and HFA president Gerry Fortune, in her brief, said that an industrial park would -mean increas- ed' transportation problems for Huron. County which .would effectthe agricultural, community. The energy Committee's brief also called for Canada to "move rapidly toward world prices for oil provided that .the windfall profits from such an escalation will be placed in .a special fund to develop Canada's renewable energy resources under Canadian control." Donald McDonald, who was chairman of the ` government's Select Committee on Hydro affairs ifor five yearss, said Ontario Hydro is stalking study. results since:they plan to present .three or foul alternative power corriidor_, routes. Also, he said if the new lines had been announced on the even of the provincial election, it wouldhave been. bad. sine' "everyone from here to Coiling. wood would upset - Who Runs Hydro? Addressing the difference in rural and urban Hydro rates, Mr. McDonald pointed out -there are now four provinces in Canada where the differential between rural and urban power costs have been eliminated. He said many , people wonder "if the :govern` meat . runs Hydro ' or Hydro runs the government". The The MP said ,if OHIP. `costs he " same anywhere in the. province, . he ioesn't see. why equalization can't also be lahieved for ,Hydro rates, Mr. Elston: advised the federation : to ►roaden their public relation's campaign in Irder to achieve equalization of Hydro rates, >ince without a strong campaign "sharing costs with their rural neighbourrs.may,not be what urban users want to do." He told the federation he would be available. ;to .channel their concerns about the Bruce Agri -Park to the government,, adding, "1 look forward to keeping, a sharp eye on that project" Murray. Cardiff said the farm community could be proud ofthe fact it hasn't increased itsenergy consumption in the past 18 P months - we get an A for our efforts," he said in maintaining levels of energy use. County warden Fred -H rberec, addres- sing concerns about the Bruce development. changing directions, cautioned, *.l would. hope we're not jumping to conclusions` here, that we have the facts..." - • Tony McQuail said the committee obtain- ed its' information at Kincardine public information sessions and from MP Garry Gurbin's Christmas letter in which "the agri-park seemed to have metamorphised into an industrial park development." Mr. McQuail said cheap, 'subsidized steam from W .CLA k FERGUSON L mniE GIVtPi.P ., tsurm O end CONC1lla!OM VIAL 395,44511 U the Bruce nuclear 'plant will • make it attractive for industries to move; to the park but would this mean effluents and pollutants wilt cause problems for the . surrounding farm community. Donald McDonaild said while in theory the agri,park plan was an admirable project, opening Bruce County greenhouses might mean "`it will drive belly -up greenhouses in Essex or Niagara." He added if the stories he's been hearing are true, it's Westons that • will be movitrg into the Bruce project, which would lead toeven more vertical' integration in the food industry:. More Drainage ' : John > Van Beers, HFA vic±e.presidenin his brief on a food strategy for the province, called for more tile drainage funding, more provincial government commitment to both the farming and food processing`. industry in the province to make them self=suficient: and support for food processors in, modern- izing their plants. 'Mr. , Van Beers also ;. called for more understanding between the consumer, lab: - aur and ..agriculture ministeries. He said, "Also the opposition . critics in those departments should be made aware that having a consumer critic criticize marketing tboards and,argue for imported food while he agriculture critic demands more security and protection for .farmers, only leads .to confusion." His humorous solution - "Per - hops a mandatory week on the farm would be :. very educationbut we . realize that at the idea might, not be practical. Murray Elston .said during the recent election campaign, "there didn't seem to be much direction for farming, let alone the food processing industry." He said there must be future planning so people will know where they're headed as in industry and so y the government can 'plan programs in this area. Donald . McDonald, in *ling for less reliance on imported fouil, said in the 1960s and 70s, 1,379 food processors closed their doors in the province. He said until these closures are stopped, there will be an increasing loss of jobs, often in essentially rural communities.: Murry .. Cardiff said the bottom line is promoting. the .homegrown products - "we have a selling job to do not only at home, but abroad." OFA vice-president Ron White. of. Middle- sex County said there should also a review of the retail food industry in Ontario, since five chains provide 70 'per cent of the food trade for consumers; He said the retail food trade "have . got around to wagging the whole dog." Mr. White said OFA research found food can be provided to the enera] public through private chains at a lower cost than •through the large chains which' are swallow- ing up the smaller stores., Merle Gu - absent n n !b: y► ee. foreign oriwership • committee chairman, delivered anotherP lea for more provincial government action on absentee foreign ownershipof Ontario farmland. He . said, "after examining absentee ownership legislation in. various provinces, theSaskatchewan Farm Owner.iship Act` appears to be the most effective. Our committeefelt', this act should be suitable as a basis for similar le islation' inOntario.`:, g Jack Riddell, Huron Middlesex MPP was on holidays, and so was unable to attend the members of parliament dinner. HFA presid. ent Gerry, . Fortune said Donald McDonald, the INDP agriculture critic, was invited to attend, the dinner as a ,guest, which "did give usthe privilege of having all three parties'represented" at the session. In. ;the years, o past few my the local MPFs and MPs ave attender the annual event. Picka Panel PRE-1I14i$11ED WALL PANELS ANTIQUE BIRCH .- OVERLAY PANELS ALSO COLOURED NAILS AND MATCHING VINYL MOULDING 1 It 1 Ar Y. i 4 r • at Y 1 �,.. ti k Ai course. ik PRICE PER 4' s S` PANEL $ ,12.98 . usommimisammosim PER PANEL MO 510 T 11 rt •. • 11 04.1 • M p Y I • M II4 ..t 4* it M tilt 11 kr 10 PI If t, Int n tints t 11' r .rrwr yl�clr�\ Xi If it 1 lit l til/11 I1 14 t1 11�'�(( -' Ir 11.E ; li . /.., ,... M 1 1, z �'..._. o I. 11_7 Y.� 14 • 5, r i • SAKRE1PE READY TO USE CEMENTMIX . ; Concrate Mix - Mortar MIx. 'Sigrid MIX• . Decorative Stucaco. HENDERSON 55 BUILDING.: ,i 1N. HENDERSON Liman LUCKNOW, CNT. , Buslrioas Hours Allow. 'to.Fri. 8 a.m. to 540 p.n. 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