HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-04-09, Page 3Riddell promises budget for farmers
By Sharon Dietz
Ontario farmers can expect the provin-
cial budget to address their concerns when
it is presented later this month, says
Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell, whose
senior policy advisors are considering the
recommendations of a ministerial task
force, Riddell said April 1 he will decide on
the type of policy to be established after he
consults with his policy advisors who have
reviewed the task force recommendations.
Riddell said he believes Ontario's
Liberal government is more aware of the
plight of the province's farmers than the
federal government whose recent budget
was a "great disappointment".
"That budget did not take into consider-
ation the depression farmers are in," said
Riddell. "It seemed to put the onus on the
provinces to .provide programs for farm-
ers".
Riddell said the $65 million in farm
credit announced in the federal budget
won't go far in this stressful time and the
$700 million in commodity -based mort-
gages won't affect many farmers. This is a
real concern, said Riddell, who suspects
that if commodity prices improve, farmers
may actually pay back more than they owe
with commodity -based mortgages.
Riddell, who has extended,, his morator-
ium on provincial loans until Sept. 15; is
still waiting for federal agriculture. minister
John Wise to make amendmentsto. the
Bankruptcy Act. Riddell said he hopes the
federal government will treat this as a
priority. The federal •:.budget seemed to
indicate Ottawa .is prepared' to introduce
legislation, which would establish debt
review panels, but Riddell said he doesn't
know what kind of teeth these panels would
have.
"Wise has said he would introduce legis-
lation with teeth in it which would seem to
indicate debt review panels could insist on'
debt write-downs," said Riddell. The
Huron -Middlesex MPP said he isn't
concerned that banks will refuse to do
business with farmers if a third party, can -,4
intervene.
"Banks don't want to own farms," said,
Riddell. He expects that banks realize if
they keep the farmer in business, .their
losses will be less than if they foreclose..
Riddell said he has talked with bank
officials who admit they based descisions
on land value instead of cashflow which
resulted in bad loans.
Banks are already writing down debt,
said Riddell and he doesn't expect they will
withdraw from farm credit if review panels
are established with the authority to insist
on debt write-downs. Decisions- to write
down debt "could mean the salvation 'of
many of our farmers," said Riddell:
The provincial agriculture minister . held
a "Chat with Jack" night at the Hotel
Bedford in Goderich on Monday evening' to
provide constituents with the opportunity.
to speak with their member of the legis
lature. Riddell said surprising -as- it May
seem, constituents who dropped`i y:.didn't
express any real concerns. They . com-
mented on what a good job the Liberal
government is;doing in taking long overdue
action on such issues as banning extra
billing and ° pay. equality.,
Call new ambulance number
•
Those needing an ambulance in the
Wingham and District Hospital area are
asked to use a new. telephone number
because a dispatch service has been
established , in Owen Sound... The
telephone number is 357-1155 for calls
in the Winghamo area and Zenith 90,000
for `tong distance . calls. ;
• Stickers with the number have been
circulated to households throughout the
communities of Lucknow, Wingham,
Brussels, Ethel, Wroxeter, Gorrie,
Fordwich and Teeswater. :
The Wingham and District Hospital
Board wasinformed f the changeatithe
last meeting Marchx.19 , , West Wawa
nosh and Ashfield board representative
Marian Zinn said the change "was
dropped like a bolt"
Although plans hadbeen made far in
advance to change the numbers for the
system Zinn said April 7 the board had
no information's'prior .to .,the March .19
meeting.
"I think there is concern . about -the
ambulance in this area," said Zinn. She,
mentioned an incident in Listowel tri§P
which a girl five blocks from the hospital
there waited for 15 minutes, for an,
ambulance She also cited ;,concerns
efficient ambulance service recently
aired in London.
Despite her. questions, Ambulance.~
Director Reg O'Hagan said at the board':' '. .
meeting that central dispatching will
not affect the ambulance." service.
Yott want the nearest ambulance, to
get there as., fast as possible, =That's the
name of the game," he said
O'Hagan disagreed ; with, Dr. ; Brian"
Hanlon's c ntention, that..control of #tile
ambulance service isbeing lost to Owen
Sound. He said service should in; fact .:
improve because 'with then z dispatch
system'"You get two, professional dis-
patchers
-,
with nothing" else to , do"
V.
era
j►
j'ennifer Dalton
On March 25 the Mannerly Minors had
the second .and third,meetings and learned
,how to eat spaghetti!' apples, pears and
bananas.The Minors' also learned how to
set the table properlywhen goingto a:
banquet.
On April .1 the fourth meeting was he'd.
Lessons'. were; on how to pack a -suit ease
properly. Hotel manners°were also taught
and hostess "Manners too:. Another good
lesson Was that we should treat everyone
tide same. Next week the club is going to
the Country -Road Nursing Holme.:
`;The meeting opened with the election of
who was to be president, vice-president.•
'apd the secretary, The "-:results were
Rhonda Hogan, president; -Sandra Van-
Asch, vice-president;, and Jennifer Martin,
'Secretary. ' • y;
The .group has started to learn more
about manners Such' as how ` to it troduce
Someone. The club is called the Kings
►ridgee,lV innerly Minors. The leaders -are J'
elore.4 n'seh and ..Betty Jones.
Y Kristen Owen •
The first meeting -of the Northwest
Huron Poultry 4.11 club started March 18 at
' p.m. at William Jardine$. house.
out manners;
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, April 9, 1986
FORMOSA
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FARM RESIDENTIAL
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HOURS: MON.-FRI. 8.5:30`p.m`SAT. 8 -NOON
Members fifs. discussed ` poultry' and
also .the next Meetings They told each
other about themselves and, had votes for
• the officers of the club
The votes ended with Shari Hutcliiison
president, , Mary law as.:secretary„ : Hank
Blomas"vice-president, and.Kristen Owen
as press reporter. ,
Discussion was held on judging poultry
and questions were asked. The meeting
• closed' at 9 p.m.
By Ney. Hunter
The second meeting of the Trinity
Personality Girls was'hcld March 19, 1986. '!
at Mrs. Hazel Hacketts at 8,15 „i t.
Roitcalls and home activities Were t'
•answered after repeating the pledge. The
girls each took turns at ° reading the
,meeeting. The . Personality Girls , learned
bo'n+ to be very considerate • people and how
to send invitations.
The 'meeting ended' with a snack . and
juice supplied by Mrs. Hackett.
Suncatchers
FINAL - CASH & CARRY.
no discounts on -fresh cut flowers, FLOW [R
PANTS OR SPRANG GARDEN SEED