The Rural Voice, 1990-03, Page 70GREY
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050
The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
FINANCING THE FEDERATION
Once upon a time, we had farm lead-
ers who realized that farmers united
would have their voices heard by gov-
ernment. At the same time, we were
blessed with politicians in this province
who recognized the importance of agri-
culture and the family farm to the well-
being of our rural society and the econ-
omy in general.
Working together, they agreed that
to make their voice heard, farmers need
secure funding.
This does sound like a fairy tale,
doesn't it? But the reality is that it did in
fact happen, and the result was Section
163 of the Municipal Act.
Section 163 permits township and/or
county councils to collect a levy of not
more than .5 of one mil from ratepayers
assessed for farm land as the annual
membership fees of such ratepayers in
the Federation of Agriculture.
This gives all farmers an opportunity
to play a small part in financing their
township and county federations.
However, upon written request, objec-
tors can be exempted from the levy. The
unique thing about this section of the
Municipal Act is that the Federation of
Agriculture is the only non-govemment
agency ever given this privilege in gen-
eral legislation.
This indicates the importance that
was accorded agriculture in Ontario at
one time. But over the years farmers
became more specialized and efficient
and shrank in numbers. The one strong
and influential voice became weak and
divided, and many townships and coun-
ties abandoned the levy in favour of a
grant.
In recent times, many attempts have
been made to restore this "secure" fund-
ing by lobbying the Ontario government
to finance the OFA, our provincial or-
ganization, through a check -off from the
Farm Property Tax Rebate at the provin-
cial level.
While this would certainly be desir-
able for the OFA and for the aims and
objectives of the agricultural sector, our
politicians today seem to like the farm -
66 THE RURAL VOICE
er's voice divided, and the check -off
appears as far from reality as ever.
Would it not make more sense to re-
activate the tool we already have in
Section 163? This would get us back to
the grassroots in the townships and
counties. It would also make individual
farmers, who may not now be support-
ing any agricultural organization, more
aware of their federation.
... our politicians today
seem to like the farmer's
voice divided, and the
check -off appears as far
from reality as ever. Would
it not make more sense to
re -activate the tool we al-
ready have in Section 163?
Today, the levy has been replaced in
many townships and counties by grants,
granted or denied at will, with amounts
often unrelated to the financial needs of
the federation. These grants come from
general tax revenues, paid by everyone,
while the levy is paid by farmers only.
The tax bill states clearly that the
amount of levy paid is for the local
Federation of Agriculture. Further-
more, the law states that the local clerk -
treasurer is required to make the names
of objectors available to the federation.
The local federation then has the oppor-
tunity to canvass objectors for their
reasons for not supporting the federa-
tion. The difference might then be re-
solved, resulting in a strengthened fed-
eration from the ground up.
This, in turn, would give the OFA,
our provincial voice, a much stronger
and more dependable base. It might
possibly divert some financial pressure
from the OFA to the counties and town-
ships; i.e., counties funded by levy
might want to pay the expenses for re-
gional directors and delegates to the
annual convention.
It is this writer's opinion that if we
have townships and counties funded
through the levy we would have a strong
grassroots base, which in turn would not
only strengthen the OFA financially, but
would give the OFA a louder voice
when dealing with government. It
might also improve the listening ability
of government when considering vital
farm issues. And if ever there was a need
for farmers to stand united, regardless of
commodity produced, the time is now.0
Karl Braeker
1st Vice-president
Grey County Federation of Agriculture
COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Past President Murray Clarke
President Lorne Eccles
1st Vice Karl Braeker
2nd Vice George Black
Executive Directors
Bill Pullen
Clay Schwegler
Agnes Diemert
Stuart Bergstra
Regional Directors
GREY
NORTH
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EAST
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R. R. 2, Holstein NOG 2A0
R. R. 4, Durham NOG 1R0
R. R. 1, Markdale NOC 1H0
R. R. 1, Proton Station NOC 1L0
R. R. 1, Flesherton NOC 1 EO
R. R. 3, Ayton NOG 1C0
R. R. 1, Shallow Lake NOH 2K0
Donna
Vanderham R. R. 1, Holland Centre NOH 1R0
Wes
Sparling R. R. 2, Meaford NOH 1Y0
Murray
SOUTH Clarke R. R. 2, Durham NOG 1R0
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