The Rural Voice, 1983-09, Page 48We're in
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1 �,•
ALL TILLAGE TOOLS
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Hugh
Parsons
BOLTS & TOOLS LTD.
11/4 mile east of Hensall
519-262-5681
PG. 46 THE
GUEST COLUMN
Pulling together
by Ralph Barrie
It has been said that adversity
breeds character. If that's the case,
then the character of the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture has been
strengthened in the past year. I write
this because I can't think of a year
since the general farm vote when so
many major issues were debated at
federation meetings.
Just think back over the last few
months: Canagrex, the Crow Rate
reforms, farm bankruptcies and the
general issue of farm financing, pro-
perty tax reform, bill C-653 (the
Ralph Ferguson bill), the Farm Credit
Corporation and Agri -Bonds. The list
could be even longer, but these few
topics highlight the important issues
we've debated and researched recent-
ly.
In those debates there have been
times when tempers have flared and
emotions got the better part of
reason. At times the issue has taken
second place to the personalities in-
volved. But to our own credit, we
have always been able to overcome
these outbursts and settle the issues in
a democratic fashion.
Rather than seeing the emotion in-
volved as a bad thing, I see it as an ex-
pression of how important these
topics are to the farm community.
And how fiercely independent and
determined we are to express our
views.
Of these issues, the OFA's official
stands are as follows:
Canagrex. The OFA was the first
farm group to call for a federal agen-
cy to help farmers increase exports of
foodstuffs. The Canagrex legislation
is now law and the agency is being set
up. The OFA agrees with the Cana-
dian Federation of Agriculture view
that the board of directors of
Canagrex should contain a majority
of farmers.
The federation also appreciates
worries that Canagrex could grow in-
to a bureaucratic monstrosity. To
counter this, the Canagrex legisla-
tion, which calls for a small agency,
must be followed. We must remain
vigilant that Canagrex doesn't
become more than it's supposed to
be.
Farm financing. Because of the
desperate situations many of us are
RURAL VOICE, SEPTEMBER 1983
in, this topic is hitting closer to home
than any other. And the FCC fiasco
of the past few months is making it
clear that the federal government
isn't doing enough to help the farm
community.
The OFA believes the Ralph
Ferguson bill can help many farmers
who are on the verge of bankruptcy.
The fear that the banks will pull out
of farm financing if the bill is passed
is a scare tactic, as far as I'm per-
sonally concerned.
The basic issue of farm financing is
that we need credit over the long-term
at affordable rates. The OFA has
been pushing its solution -- Agri -
bonds.
It was interesting to see OMAF
Minister Dennis Timbrell come out in
support of Agri -bonds at the
Agriculture Ministers Conference in
Prince Edward Island in July.
However, Agri -bonds still aren't
government policy. In hopes of in-
fluencing the government, it was
decided at the July board meeting
that a new lobbying strategy be con-
sidered.
This new direction could lead to
more direct action. The catalyst for
this new policy has been the govern-
ment's lack of commitment to the
FCC. At a time when farmers are
desperate for credit, the government
isn't willing to give the FCC the
money it needs.
A farm director for Ontario on the
FCC spoke at the July board meeting.
What he said -- including that the new
funds the FCC will soon hand out
cannot be used for debt consolidation
-- showed how insensitive the govern-
ment is to our needs.
Property tax. At the July meeting
the board reaffirmed its support for
the proposed reforms to the property
tax system. This vote followed several
months of meetings across the pro-
vince. Those meetings gave every
member of the federation the chance
to express his views.
I don't think any individual can ask
for more than that. Being given the
chance to argue your point of view,
and convince others of the merits of
your beliefs, is one of the cor-
nerstones of the federation.
It's imperative that we never give
up this right. But when the ballots are
counted, and the decision made, it's