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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-07-27, Page 2news Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, July 27, 1983—Page 2 OFA reaffirms support for tax reform proposal TORONTO - The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has reaffirmed its sup- port, in principle, for the proposed reforms to the farm property tax system. The overwhelming endorsement of the reforms came at a board of directors meeting of the OFA held here today. OFA President Ralph Barrie said the vote reflected the views of the majority of On- tario farmers. The province's proposed reforms call for a 100 percent rebate of taxes on product- ive farmland. To be eligible for the rebate, farmers must have a gross income of $8,000 or $12,000, depending on the area of the pro- vince they farm in. While agreeing to the principle of the reforms, the federation op- poses the income levels set by the province. The OFA wants the income level reduced to $5,000. The federation is also concerned that the assumed lot under the house is not assessed at an inflated value. The board's decision follows three months of meetings across the province at which the 25,000 farmers who are members of the OFA debated the reforms. The individual views were then summarized in the votes of the 100 county and regional directors who voted at the meeting. The OFA. board originally agreed in prin- ciple with the reforms in March, 1982. However, in the following months concerns were raised by many farmers over the pro- posal. "Because we wanted to make sure UFA policy reflected the views of Ontario's farmers, we sent the issue back to the coun- ties," Barrie said. "The reforms aren't perfect, but they are one step closer to creating a more equitable property tax system," Barrie added. Originally, the OFA pushed for reforms because the property tax was dispropor- tionate to their means to pay. Compared to Change regulations •from page 1 fisherman in the Bayfield area, says this is not true; that fish regularly move away from the shore in the warm weather, and will probably move back closer to the shore later on in the summer. Mike Malhiot, from the Ministry of Natural Resources, says there are no restrictions now on commercial fishermen except for the length of nets they can spread in the water, and the mesh size of the nets. In 1984, however, the ministry will start a new system of management, imposing quotas on licensed fishermen. He thinks "that should also help to resolve the problem," because fishermen can catch their quotas, by species, in the spring and fall, and leave the lake free in the summer for recreation. Corrin appointed to board By Henry Hess There were a number of faces on the board of governors of the Wingham and District Hospital at its inaugural meeting June 16 as retirements opened the door to new members. At the hospital's annual meeting, held last Thursday evening, John Schenk and Robert Middleton were elected as representatives from Wingham in a close, three-way race with Nelson Frank. They fill the vacancies left by Jack Kopas and Raye Elmslie, who stepped down after four years on the board. It was the only election of the evening, as all other vacancies were filled by acclam- ation. Isobel Arbuckle was returned to the board for Blyth and East Wawanosh as were Rev. Ken Innes for Brussels and Frank Mac- Kenzie for Lucknow and Kinloss. For Teeswater and Culross, Mary Lou Thompson was acclaimed to the seat vacated by the retiring Mery McIntyre, while for Morris, Shirley Garniss was appointed to complete the term of Isobel Garniss, who retired for health reasons. Mary Vair, currently board chairman was reappointed as the Huron County repres- entative. Also new on the board are Dr. Brian Hanlon of Wingham, appointed as the hospital chief of staff for the next three years, and Dr. M. Corrin of Lucknow, one of the representatives from the medical staff. Returning to the board is Dr. Walter Wong of Wingham, currently president of the medical staff. About 35 people attended the annual meeting, which was held at the hospital in the RNA training school, to hear reports from the board and elect new members. No questions were raised about any of the matters dealt with, and the meeting was over in about half an hour. At its inaugural meeting immediately following the annual meeting, the board elected its chairman and vice chairman for the coming year and struck its various standing committees. Mrs. Vair was re-elected as chairman, with Hans Kuyvenhoven continuing as vice chairman and chairman of the management committee. Other members of the manage- ment committee, the most powerful com- mittee of the board, are Robert Pike, John Schenk, Archie Hill, Dr. Wong and Mrs. Thompson. The finance and audit committee is headed again by Mr. Pike, with other members Dr. Hanlon, E. William Newton, Mr. Innes and Mrs. Garniss. The property committee is headed,by.vir. Hill, with Noreen Gnay, Dr. Corin, Mr. MacKenzie, Mr. Middleton and Mrs. Ar- buckle. Other committees and their members are: (first named is chairman) Joint conference, Mrs. Vair, Dr. Wong, Dr. Hanlon, Dr. Corrin, Mr. Kuyvenhoven, Mr. Schenk, Norman Hayes, hospital executive director; 'ublic relations, Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Schenk, Mrs. Arbuckle, Mrs. Harold°Gaunt, Mrs. Garniss; community services liaison committee, Dr. Wong, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Vair, Mr. Innes. Suggests sports hall offame By Stephanie Levesque A Huron County Sports Hall of Fame is now just an idea, but an idea its originators think could bear fruit in a very short period of time. CKNX reporter Glenn Creamer of Goderich asked Huron County councillors at their July 7. meeting for representatives from each of Huron's 26 municipalities to serve on a board of direc- tors. The idea grew out of a meeting between Mr. Creamer, Goderich Mayor Eileen Palmer and former National Hockey League player Larry Jeffrey. Mr. Creamer said the trio isn't looking to construct a building for the hall of fame and admitted the criteria for being selected to the hall of fame has not been determin- ed. "What we have done is decided to approach county council, that's why I'm here. Not so much for the council's involvement, but more to use you to get this message back to your own municipalities and help us select at least one sports -minded person from each municipality to serve on a board of direc- tors," said Mr. Creamer. Goderich deputy -reeve Jim Britnell asked if a cor- ner of the court house would be needed for the hall of fame. Mr. Creamer said it would be up to the board of directors. He also suggested that if a plaque was placed in the court house, a duplicate could be placed in the athlete's home community. "No doubt some of you are already thinking that this is another ploy by the Town of Goderich to cash in on something. That's wrong," Turn to page 9. non -farmers, farmers paid much more of their income to property tax. Under the present system, farmers receive a 50 percent rebate on all property taxes paid on their farms. The OFA has been working for more than 30 years for reforms to the property tax system. Through those years the federation policies have always been based on the same principles: that property taxes should pay for property services, that people ser- vices should be paid by individuals and that farmland taxes should be based on the pro- ductive value of the land. It'S a hoot ! 133 picture perfect playgrounds for you to discover. 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