The Rural Voice, 2001-04, Page 70PERTH
Burnell Kipfer, R.R. #1, Sebringville NOK 1X0 Ph: 519-271-3399 Fax 519-273-0789
PCFA Office 519-229-6430 Fax 519-229-6269 e-mail: perth@ofa.on.ca
Voice is provided to farmers
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER 'TheRuralin Perth County by the PCFA.
Farmers are getting involved
By Bill Mailloux
Vice -President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
When Jack Wilkinson took over as
president of the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture almost 18 months ago, he
challenged Ontario farmers to get
involved in the farm lobby effort.
He told them their participation
was critical to the success of
lobbying for the things farmers want
and need to succeed.
They were listening because on
March 14 more than 5,000 of them
joined in convoys and rallies across
the province to show their solidarity
at Guelph, Pickering and Ottawa.
We are going to have to build on
that show of solidarity if we are to
have any hope of getting our Federal
Cabinet to come up with $900
million Canadian farmers have
shown they need to top up the safety
net programs they rely on to get them
-through tough times.
The $500 million announced by
Minister Lyle Vanclief earlier this
month just isn't enough to meet the
needs of farmers across this country.
In Ontario we calculated we needed
$180 million from the Federal
Government alone, plus another $120
million from the Provincial
Government.
Our Provincial Government is
committed to adding its 40 per cent
based on the 60/40 agreement
between the Federal and Provincial
governments, and is also talking
about finding additional emergency
funding to address the current crisis
being faced by farmers.
For some reason our federal
cabinet, headed by Prime Minister
Jean Chretien, can't be convinced the
crisis is real and that they have a
responsibility to ensure the farming
industry in Canada gets the support it
needs to compete with high subsidy
levels paid to farmers in the United
States and Europe by their respective
governments.
The figures have been provided to
demonstrate the need is legitimate.
Not only are farm organizations
across the country behind the figures,
66 THE RURAL VOICE
but provincial governments in
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba,
Ontario and Quebec agree.
Agriculture ministers from those
governments have joined forces to
call on the Federal Government to
increase its level of support to $1
billion to which they would
collectively add $500 million.
We are hopeful that the March 14
convoy and rallies across Ontario,
with the added support of
demonstrations in other provinces,
will be enough to convince the
Federal Cabinet to increase its safety
net funding. This would allow
Canadian farmers to plant their crops
this spring and start paying off some
of their input costs from last year.
Failing that, farm organizations
from across Ontario, and most of
Canada will be calling. on their
farmer -members to join in a more
intense lobby effort in the near future.
We know the streets of Ottawa
were turned into parking lots with the
March 14 show of solidarity, and that
Highway 401 from Windsor to
Pickering was slowed as the convoy
worked its way across the province.
We also know our farmers showed
an increasing willingness to
participate in such demonstrations.
Several months ago they were
reluctant to get involved, but now, as
anger and frustration builds, they are
Thank You
The Perth County Federation
of Agriculture would like to
thank all the Perth County
Farmers and businesses who
supported the Day of Action
on March 14 in Guelph
PERTH COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday,
April 26, 2001 — 8:00 p.m.
Downie Mutual Insurance Office
Sebringville
EVERYONE WELCOME
pushing their organizations to do
more.
With the Day of Action experience
behind us now, we will review the
results, and if the Federal Cabinet
continues to resist meeting the
realistic needs we have demonstrated,
the next level of farmer activity will
be mapped out and the call put out for
Ontario farmers to become even more
involved.
At OFA, we hope that's not
necessary, but at the same time we
know we have to increase the
pressure until the Federal
Government fulfills its obligation to
Canadian agriculture, and we're
prepared to lead the charge.0
NISA Review
A review of the NISA program has been
launched to see what farmers think about its
role and design as a farm income safety net.
Comments are to be submitted by April 6,
2001.
For more information, or to participate in
the review, call 1-888-811-2432 or visit the
review on line at: www.agr.cainisareview
ONTARIO FARM INCOME
DISASTER PROGRAM
The Farm Income Disaster Program
(OFIDP) builds on the Ontario Whole Farm
Relief Program, which was in effect for the
1998 and 1999 tax years. New program
features for the 2000 tax year include pre -
completed application forms, and the filing
of applications over the telephone to
enhance client service and program
efficiency.
Workshops will be conducted to assist
farmers in determining their eligibility. They
will provide you with information that will
help you to complete your application.
The workshops in our area are:
1. Shakespeare & District Optimists
Hall, Tuesday, March 27, 1:00 p.m.
2. Ramada Inn London, Wednesday,
March 28, 1:00 p.m.
3. Seaforth Legion, Tuesday, April 3,
7:00 p.m.
Questions? Please call 1-877-838-
5144.0
1