The Rural Voice, 2001-10, Page 60HURON
519-482-9642 or 1-800-511-1135 website
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0
www.ofa.on.ca/huron Email: huron@ofa.on.ca
• The Rural Voice is provided to all farmers
in Huron County by the HCFA.
By Jack Wilkinson, President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
While a group of more than 1,300 of
the world's top biologist$ express
criticism of Canada's attempts to legislate
habitat protection for species at risk,
Canadian farmers have their own
criticism of the proposed federal
legislation.
Farmers are environmentalists by
nature — they rely on the land, water and
air for the health and production of their
crops and animals. They understand the
value of maintaining as many species as
possible within our ecosystem for balance
and benefit.
We have real problems understanding
why our senior governments expect
farmers to pay the price of maintaining
habitat for species at risk. The proposed
federal legislation offers 50 per cent
compensation for any land lost to
production for the sake of protecting
habitat.
That's just not good enough. Farmers
view such an effort as a benefit to all of
society and believes there has to be 100
per cent compensation for income lost
and inconvenience encountered as a result
of efforts to protect such habitat.
Expropriation of farms cannot go
uncompensated.
The group of biologists maintains the
greatest problem with the proposed
federal legislation is that it applies only to
federal lands and does nothing to preserve
habitat on provincial lands.
Farmers in Ontario are already
experiencing some of the consequences of
knowingly, or not knowingly, going
against Ontario's own endangered species
act. One farming operation in this
province is facing tines up to $50,000 and
possible jail time for the alleged willful
destruction of the habitat of an
ATTENTION: REGARDING HYDRO RESELLERS!
There is no RUSH to sign up for the hydro
resellers offers! Your hydro will not be cut off 4
you do not sign!
If you do sign up, be sure to study resellers'
offers and note rates, cancellation clauses and
and determine whether your taxes are included.
Also compare these to what you are paying
now
HCFA OFFICE HOURS
Mondays and Fridays
9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Please leave a message.
(519) 482-9642/1-800-511-1135
FAX (519) 482-1416
56 THE RURAL VOICE
Species at risk and farmers
endangered bird.
If' the farmer is expected to preserve
this ,habitat, it would mean the end of
active farming of approximately 30 acres,
based on ministry calculations of the land
area required for this endangered bird.
Over a period of years, this would amount
to tens of thousands of lost dollars for the
farm.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture
believes it is unfair and unrealistic for our
governments to place such additional
financial burdens on farmers. What other
industry would tolerate confiscation of 50
per cent of its production assets? We want
changes to the proposed federal
legislation that will recognize the impacts
on farmers and ensure 100 per cent
compensation.
We will continue to work with the
Canadian Federation of Agriculture, as
the House of Commons resumes business,
to make the point with Members of
Parliament that farmers should not be
expected to carry this load.
There needs to be better co-ordination
of efforts to protect species, at risk and
subsequently their habitat by both the
federal and provincial governments. This
is necessary since wildlife doesn't respect
provincial boundaries or the differences
between private and public lands.
Some of the biologists view Canada as
Still available at the Huron Federation office
are the LOG Books and Vehicle Inspection
Books at $1.50 each. Pick them up any
Monday or Friday.
Huron County Federation of Agriculture
BOARD MEETING
Fo,:r th Monday of the Month - 8:00 p.m.
Vanastra Office - Members Welcome!
the weak link in the world ecological
system because of its inadequate approach
to protecting the habitat for these species
at risk.
Farmers in Ontario and across Canada
are feeling like a species at risk
themselves because of our federal
government's approach. Not only does
our government expect us to carry 50 per
cent of the burden of protecting species at
risk for the rest of society, but we're
expected to survive with inadequate
safety net programs and highly subsidized
world competition.
The OFA will continue to insist that
our governments do a better job of
levelling the playing field for our farmers
and their families by buffering the risks
we face and the uncontrollable forces of
nature that attack our industry.0
You can attend the OFA Convention
OFA Convention will be held at the
International Plaza on November 19 and 20.
Any OFA member may become a "delegate" to
the Convention if they wish. They have to be
nominated at our Annual/Regional meeting in
Seaforth on October 11 to become a delegate
for your region. Also, if you have a resolution
you would like to go to the OFA Convention
have it ready to be presented at the meeting as
well.
Huron County Federation of
Agriculture
ANNUAL MEETING
Thursday, October 11, 2001
Seaforth Community Centre
OFA President Jack Wilkinson
will be in attendance
At this meeting there will be changes to our
constitution regarding amalgamation. Townships
will have to be converted to municipalities.
Farm Line
Confidential ^� 3
Counselling & Referral f u
For Ontario Farmers Toll Free: 1-888-451-2903
and their Families
Tel : 1-613-341-9341
OFA provided support for
the development of the
"Farm Line," a new
counselling and referral
service for Ontario farmers
and their families.
NOMINATION FOR ANNUAL HURON COUNTY AWARD
I would like to nominate for the Annual Huron County
Award for outstanding contribution in the field of Agriculture and to the community in the County of
Huron as well as provincially because
Signed
Clip this ad and mail your reply to: Huron Federation of Agriculture,
PO Box 429, CLINTON, ON NOM 1L0 or Fax 519-482-1416