Loading...
The Lucknow Sentinel, 1996-02-14, Page 14ir • Page 14 ueltnow Sentinel, Wedn sday, February 14, MO Leaders discus by Amy Neilands Huron County farm lead- ers gathered in Clinton reeently to .discuss the future of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Faced with a proposed 35 per cent cut to the OMAFRA budget, leaders from the county's farm groups met at the OMAFRA office to discuss courses of action to take against fertile! cuts ,to agri- culture. " - After facing a 25 per cent reduction to the °MAMA budget in 1991, the Progressive 'Comervative . election promise Was no further cuts to.,the ministry. Steve 'Thompson, presi- dent of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture (HCFA), presented a break- • down of the present $451.6 million -budget: 34.8 per . cent of the budget is made up of the Fano Tax Rebate Program, 32 per cent is made up of transfer pay - merits from GRIP, NISA and crop insurance, and 33 Per cent is itiarle up of direct operating of the ministry. cbuld eliminate any one program completely and we would still be short 35 •per cent," said Thompson, adding that unfortunately. the one-third that will be cat will likely be the 'people out in,the field doing things; the pc%' ple who'cleal vvitkyou, who work with you." We're here to find out,, what ONAFRA can do without," lie said. "Can there be a cutback of 3$ per cent and still provide a. lneaniiikful level of service? Cuts of this magnitude cause me personally a great deal of concern. Especially when we hear the govern- ment say one thing and mean another.7., ° uncerta.itv, ol The groups present listed a number of OMAPRA sm. vices they use. They ranged from the use of the building for meetings to secretarial work such as photocopying by the staff, The possibility of a user -pay system was presented for such services as the use of the building, staff, and equipment. c' • Great concern was. voiced by the Huron County program; Added up dirougheuk the year, the club depends on 0M4RA for 1,000 hours of work, 4- 1L uses the facilities, equip, meat, and a large meant of secretarial work from °MAMA. The total cost of. running the Huron County program is $27,000, and with $1,400 coming from fundraising from the pro gram, representatives from 4-H were concerned about the future of the club with- out ONIApRA, "We should keep • • • • •. '• OMAFRA at any oost,' a representative from the wheat producers stated, adding that any reduction in the budget would not make OIVIAFRA useful to anyone. "If we're looking at a 35 per cent reduction, OMAFRA will be of no use to anybody," it was noted by a participant. "virc have to justify its existence At the level of funding now. We must go to them with real numbers. That's our first step; to get the numbers." shouldn't be accept-. ing any cuts to agriculture, said Jeanne Kirkby, adding that agriculture is the num- ber two industry in Ontario. "Ws, like killing the goose that lays the golden egg...But we have very little time to accomplish anything before this hits us," she ,added as the cuts are expecte(' to come by the end of March., • 'We need these tools to caul on," another partici- pant said of the agriculture ministry. "We need these photocopiers. If we start eroding from the bottom up there will be nothing to ,stand on." „ The consensus at the meeting was for the differ- ent farm groups to band ' together as one voice and present their opposition 'to the government. If we speak in one voice and if everybody works together, we can accomplish sem - thing" stated Kirkby. "When we fall on tough times the government is there to help us," said %in "Now the govern- . • Ment is having a tough time and we can help therm let's corne to their rescue,'he added, stating that this is the change for their groups to aid the government finale - • • • . y • . 1 • • • daily. • "Ontario agriculture has already taken its share of hits," said Bill Wallace, past president of the HCFA. Wallace suggested that the government look at. other ministries forcuts before eoming back for more outs to agriculture. After debating the issue, the group decided to gather the facts and figures (m agriculture in both Huron County, and Ontario and present that intbrination to Huron MPP Helen Johns. "We must show the iMportance of Huron County in agriculture," said Kirkby, "We are one of the biggest producers of agri- cultural products in Ontario. We must give Helen ,Johns the ammunition to take back (to the government)...Helen Johns is just one voice. But if we speak loud enough, more than Helen Johns will hear u " 4 „ • I. 0 Painting • TeesWatir *Residential *Commetdtd Interior & Exterior FREE ESTIMATES 3924669 J.C., CONSTRUCTION /Roofing /Windows 'Doors 1Aluminuin Work We use ALLAN Products JAMES cook' 519-5294028 DUNGANNON Richard R.A. HAVENS ELECTRIC * Residential • -S-•si‘ , — * Farm * , • - lwil * Commercial if - 7 '!'.. Electrical Contractors - FREE ESTIMATES Rod Havens • LUCKNOW , 528-2301 014 Cliff's Plumbing SE Heating operated by:' Cliffmartn Mechanical Ltd. • , • 640 Willoughby St. Luchnow. 519-528-3913 Cliff Mahn Fax 519-528-3125 ' • , we build the best . and repair the rest ge,o/y6 Siegt4 444444 No.40 ‘40/1,41, Ft.R.#2 AUBURN 529-7212 PAX. 529-3271 BERGMAN ALITOBODY (519) 5282338 Insurance &Collision Repairs pe tot • Rit5womottomitioezmo MHW PLUMBING Box 93, Lucknow, Ont. N0G2H0 Qualified Licensed Plumber, with 10 years experience. "Reasonable Rates° 24 Hour SERVICE Michael H. INhitcroft • LUCKNOW 528-3407 • This spot reserved for your Business Card, . ." • for all your bi1ding needs..., HENDERSON onvecare 011111M40 782 Havelock St., Lucknow (519) 528-3118 Fax (519) 52434814 Oil,PropGas Ptirnaces installed St Serviced Bernard Campbell ne sorvicto Q. usqvarna Parts and Service for AU, makes of Lawn and Garden Equipment Hwy, #84. Whitechurch 357-2217 . - . is Space is for You Don't to)) yourself Of more business. itemembr people do read ads. You are doing so now! A good irlYestmentl For information call 5 8-2 22 • . , 1{....1•1 .111.