The Rural Voice, 1991-02, Page 3R.V.
general manager/editor: Jim Fitzgerald
editorial advisory committee:
Bev Hill, farmer, Huron County
John Heard, soils and crops extension
and research, northwestern Ontario
Neil McCutcheon, farmer, Grey County
Diane O'Shea, farmer, Middlesex Cty.
George Penfold, associate professor,
University of Guelph
Gerald Poechman, farmer, Bruce Cty.
Bob Stephen, farmer, Perth County
contributing writers:
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Roulston, Cathy Laird, Wayne Kelly,
Sarah Borowski, Mary Lou Weiser -
Hamilton, June Flath, Ian Wylie-Toal,
Susan Glover, Bob Reid, Mervyn Erb,
Peter Baltensperger, Darene Yavorsky,
Sandra Orr, Yvonne Reynolds
marketing and promotion:
Gerry Fortune
advertising sales:
Merle Gunby
production co-ordinator:
Tracey Rising
advertising & editorial production:
Rhea Hamilton -Seeger
Anne Harrison
Brenda Baltensperger
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BEHIND THE SCENES
by Jim Fitzgerald
General Manager/editor
In business and in government, one
of the favorite buzz phrases for the
past several years has been "window
of opportunity." It describes a
situation where a number of circum-
stances have coincided — either
through luck or extremely good plan-
ning — to enable something to hap-
pen. This is most obvious since big
business has jumped on the environ-
mental band wagon. They are literally
tripping over each other to put out
"green" or "environmentally friendly"
products or to be seen as "responsible"
corporate citizens.
Another example of trying to use
the "window of opportunity" is the
federal Conservatives. The clever
guys behind the scenes in Ottawa
figured the best time for them to intro-
duce highly disliked policies such as
the Free Trade Agreement, the Goods
and Services Tax, the closing of post
offices, the ending of some rail
services, cutbacks in the CBC, and the
selling of Air Canada and other Crown
corporations, is early in their four year
term. That way, they will get the bad
news out early. Sure, people will be
angry at first, but the Tories figured
they will get over it, and by the time
the next election rolled around in 1992
or 1993, the voters will have forgotten
and return them to Ottawa for another
term.
Well, things haven't gone quite as
smoothly as Mulroney had hoped, but
there are two years to go before the
next election. Don't count them out
yet even though the Conservatives are
at histroic lows in the polls.
Similarly, there exists a "window
of opportunity" in the agricultural sec-
tor, particularly in Ontario. Farmers
badly need the well-financed farm or-
ganization that we've all been talking
about for decades.
If you look at all the circumstan-
ces, this is the ideal time. Examine
the evidence: we have had a recession
in most areas of agriculture for the
past decade. We have the uncertainty
of the Free Trade agreement and the
GATT talks that have alerted everyone
in the farm community, including the
once complacent supply management
groups, that we had better start talking
with one voice or we will be in danger
of losing our way of life. We have a
new government in Toronto that is
labour oriented and, supposedly,
understands the importance of allow-
ing groups to organize. There are at
least two persons in the top of the
ministry of agriculture and food —
MPP Paul Klopp and Tony McQuail,
the minister's right-hand man, both
for -mer presidents of the Huron Feder-
ation of Agriculture — who under-
stand the importance of a strong farm
organization. Equally important, it's
at four years until the next election.
The timing couldn't be better.
Agriculture Minister Buchanan
should bite the bullet and legislate a
mandatory, fully refundable check -off
sy-stem to support one farm organiza-
tion. We must have it now if we are to
be able to continue to feed ourselves.
The details can all be worked out to
make sure other farm groups will have
an voice within the OFA, and safe-
guards can be put in place through
legislation to have a watch -dog in
place, much like the tribunal that over-
sees marketing boards.
And yes, there certainly are going
to be howls of rage and protest from
small groups within the farm commu-
nity. Buchanan may even need a
police escort for a few months, much
like Bill Stewart needed back in 1965
when he arbitrarily brought in the
Milk Act to end chaos and pain the
dairy sector was suffering at the time.
Let's do it this year while the "win-
dow" is still open.0