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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1991-09-18, Page 1BritriONA. IRWIN Attention,.. 'politicians; Ontario farmers have had enough. Representatives of all three political *rues felt the heat Thursday night as more than. 1,000 angel .Pa0P10.0 mnstlY faAnarat jammed the Luc ow Community Centre to Vent their frustrati�n with government inaction, les sad to think that I cOUld wind dOwn my 'farm operation, g� �n welfare and have my standard • living 0 Jack Wilkinson, vice-president or the Onutria meetin said that.' Fedemtion of Agriculture kl-the-cheerhig-crowdr--- The meeting; titled 'A Line in the Dirt,' was sponsored by, Ontario fanners and agri-business. SPeakers from the agricultural sector were present, as well as Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff ); Huron NEP Paul IClopp,(NDP), and Bruce MPP Murray Elston (Liberal), interim leader of the opposition. ferilsont-`,." land,;' mac livestock. .' . - "Lor the.. 1991 tax year,' our net income .from the 'farm was unde $4$000o7 -48001.. said, r works part -lime off the. farm. Her :investment is a $500 car because : *a". Can't- afford anything ..beiter and a plastic lunch box. And she -eaiiis more money than I do. Something's wrong." . • "We have the second biagest industry in Ontario, but it has to be supplemented by off -farm jobs," Wilkinson said. "Rural Ontario has now elected three provincial governments, only to be told each time `we have to talk: we have. to consult; the cup* boards are barer thati we thought they were; you'll have to go to the end of the line because there are others,. more important ahead of you." • lie pointed, out that both the federal and provincial governments are majority' governments, "and they cani.ineve just as fast as they about- as distraught as a piton, caa bet,' said Ireland. "Pc Ono_ three young Jainblori -PROW, farmers, all with families,. com- mitted suicide."• • 'McQueen's:Bush *Ural Ministry, founded irt 1901, was originally set up to help farmers deal:404th' difficulties; But Ireland said, it has had to branch out help Oat with,„ a wide variety Other problems, such as MOO diftlt* ties **hot and substance abuse, and fantiliecollOseilVintly Of these problems frota the Strain of serious Onantial:trouhlost; he said. ••,* Importing food is anOption, "but t every tinie, we import food; we essentially extort ,jobs:and. said. Nor iiiijuiititAtionitaijohs that ate lost, aaitthO. speakers. "TO replace a tractor coati anywhere from,...41$11000410;00%" StOtt; 0, replace a combine 'costsanywhere from $50,000, szokooporile.droins test $36450. 'per. acre. : A'thOdest barn or shed costs between $25000430,000.* those vosta,, represent "huge Association.;. • : .the lam* is' not getting fair returns, OtlitiOs ,ho's not spending Money. litiewit.' If we as 1)10040$000100,0011!t Stand behind the make things goo ihef won't be out thare bum, thatnew car, .those shoes, those clothes. And we (Meg said • • ' "For every seven farina that .gt, wider,: Ono, tow*. 'business ',goes ,just as. traumatic for the. iniall4nsitiess owner. as it 'slot the fanner." fatale unempioyed" he • "Most farms, are dependent on ."fl couldJO that go to non=fanti 'people,. a Sig- 14-unaniploYment figures." In his opening speech, Lawrence Hogan, an area cash -crop fanners warned that if financial relief not given, .the result:4411 be "a iloas* toting number" of farm foreclosures, Starting as early as this "I'm the founh generation on this farm," said Stott, 'Anti it goes pretty deep to think that I could be the end of the line." Speakink of the entire industry, he added "surely something that has endured so lot* and contributed so much is worth saving" I• "It's often suggested that people get the, kind of government we deserve," said Hill, "But we deserve, better than this. oehlenst :seeks ecOh ,o, for agriculture . The "Line c in the movement is made up of grassroots farmers' cOnCernedforthe economic well.: nig producersofagriCattural:go Modules in Ontario, The .4roup7s seeking. to obtain -long.tertn financial sktbili01 Tor Orme:* by' lifting them OW'of a decade of rice-snequi es,. • artintention'Of the' group is not to form a new farm organization* but rather to enhance the efforts of existing at* organizations and commodity group;" said Elliott " Lowry,* one of the organizers; "ft is clear from the more • I*000people who' attended our gathering in Luchnow 'on,Septemberli that Something must be done quickly to ensure the survival of titriciatute • Ise movement is a previa/W. of the overwhelming 'support expressed by the public for :its cause and for the strong support demonstrated by,the ;Arming and agri. business communities on September ii The group it also fully ofthe effort* of other at* organizations ,and 'commodity romps ' that are attempting to obtain.short.term :cash flOw assistance for producers Armlet the "State of Emergency" farm crisis ,,c4#1 ittio *