The Rural Voice, 1991-04, Page 91
FEEDBACK
STRONGER SENATE
The main arguments for some form
of check -off funding for a general
farm organization seems to come
down to a stronger voice for farmers.
If a farm organization like the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture was truly
responsive to the needs of farmers, we
would not have the CFFO or the NFU
in place today. We see the OCA,
which has a check -off, asking for an
increase as well as the OFA increasing
membership to $140 a year.
It seems obvious that as there get
to be fewer and fewer farmers, there
will be higher and higher check -offs
that will be determined by an elite few
who control the GFO, which will have
little political clout regardless if there
is one or 100 farm organizations.
In order to have constructive
change we cannot rely on a lobby
group to try and be heard when there
are hundreds of other groups (e.g.
environmental, health) trying to have
their policies implemented.
The solution lies in parliamentary
reform of the Senate that would give
equal representation between rural and
urban voters in each region of the
country. They would also be elected
every 6 years. It would look like this:
Canadian Senate: West — 26 seats,
12 urban, 12 rural, 2 native; Ontario
— 25 seats, 12 urban, 12 rural, 1
native; Quebec — 25 seats, 12 urban,
12 rural, 1 native; East — 25 seats, 12
urban, 12 rural, 1 native; Newfound-
land — 7 seats, 3 urban, 3 rural, 1
native; Yukon, 1 seat; Northwest
Territories, 1 seat; Total — 110 seats,
51 urban, 51 rural, 6 native, and 2
territorial.
In addition, any political party able
to obtain one per cent or more of the
national vote would be guaranteed one
seat in the senate. This would mean if
15 million voted on election day a po-
litical party would need 150,000 votes
to meet the one per cent requirement
to a senate seat. This would allow
smaller fringe parties or minorities a
platform to present their ideas or
thoughts to the Canadian electorate.
This would also allow smaller parties
more power in government in that the
senate would more likely not be in the
hands of any one party, meaning the
party that forms the government in the
commons would need the support of
individual senators more, whether it is
the six native senators, a Green party
senator, or the stronger voice from
rural senators in order for the govem-
ment to have greater ease in passing
legislation through the senate. This
would make the main line parties
more involved in the needs of the few,
like farmers, and at the same time
governing to the will of the majority.
Ontario farmers could be the catalyst
needed to pull the country together by
pushing for a reformed senate that not
only helps Ontario farmers have a
greater voice, but farmers in Quebec,
as well as all rural Canada, plus
natives and minorities.0
William Cook
R. R. 4, Tara, Ontario
Cook's.
Growing to meet
your needs.
For over 100 years, Cook's has expanded its facilities to
serve the growing needs of our farm customers.
In that time, we've earned a reputation for reliable
commodity trading and responsive supply of crop inputs.
We pride ourselves on being a full service, 100%
Canadian -owned business.
Our 8 locations have everything you
need this spring, from seed and
fertilizer to crop protection products.
And Cook's people have the
expertise to help you get the most
from your crop.
We can help you with crop
planning, provide soil testing and
fertilizer blending, and custom
application of nutrients and crop
protection products.
When you're looking for reliable
input services this spring .. .
plan to grow with Cook's.
Division of
Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited
• Amberly
• Atwood
Walton
Hensall
•Kirkton
• Centralia
Parkhill
• Beechwood
Q SARNIA D LONDON
"Where you can trade with confidence."
APRIL 1991 5