The Rural Voice, 1993-12, Page 64GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
44610th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
519-364-3050
' The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
The Ontario Farm Registration
and Farm Organizations Funding Act
(1993) is now reality and the first
registration notices should be in the
mail shortly.
Before we Ict out a big sigh of
relief, let us realize that the hardest
part of implementation is still ahead.
It is essential that we convince the
present members to keep up their
support, and to prove to ALL farmers
that we indeed deserve their support
and trust.
As a result of the passed
legislation, I received a phone call
from a full-time but independent non-
member farmer asking about some
implications of the Act and the now
mandatory $150 registration fee.
His two biggest concerns were:
1. The Big -Shots in Toronto are
FARM 1
SAFETY
FACTS
CHIMNEYS
CAN
CATCH
FIRE
SAFETY TINS:
* Check pipes and chimneys
once every 30 days and clean
if necessary.
* Flue gases of 350° F or more
provide a good draw and minimal
creosote build-up.
* Clean chimneys with the
appropriate type of brush approved
for your chimney.
60 THE RURAL VOICE
Stable Funding: the facts
making over $80,000 per year on the
backs of working farmers. (No
source given for this figure.)
2. What is there to stop
government from raising the
registration fee to $400 or $500 in
years to come?
Since this may well be a general
concern on some of the back roads
(#1), let me give the actual numbers
of remuneration for the OFA
Executive from the president down:
An independent committee of
elected OFA Directors set the
following per diem schedule in the
fall of 1991, to take effect on January
1, 1992. This schedule is still in
effect.
FACT:
President per diem of $275 — with
a maximum of 200 days per year.
Maximum per diem allowed per year
of $55,000.
First vice per diem of $200,
maximum of $40,000.
Second vice per diem of $175,
maximum of $35,000.
Executive members, four elected
annually, per diem of $135,
maximum of $27,000 each.
Maximum Executive per diem per
year comes to $238,000. ALL
positions are one year terms, and
elections are held at the Annual OFA
Convention in November. Any
member in good standing is eligible
for election.
OFA Directors receive a per diem
of $40 to attend the 10 OFA Board
meetings per year. Committee chairs
are paid per diems of $60 while
committee members receive the
grand total of $50 per diem. On top
of the per diem, mileage is paid at 22
cents per km. OFA Directors are also
elected for a one year term by their
respective Federations.
Due to the precarious financial
position of the OFA, some counties
have assumed the expenses for their
Regional Directors, and some
Regional Directors are covering their
own expenses.
FACT:
As to the fear that the $150
registration fee might be increased in
future years, this amount is specific
in the legislation.
Government must go back to
parliament to change the amount or
any other item in the legislation.
FACT:
Government does NOT get ANY
of the $150 registration fee other than
applicable GST.
FACT:
The Ontario Government is
assuming all of the administrative
cost connected with this bill and in
return obtains the information on the
registration form for its computer
program.
Information provided by farmers
other than name and address is
CONFIDENTIAL. GFOs only have
access to name and address and the
cheque.
I am quite aware that some
misconceptions still exist in the
farming community, both about this
farm registration bill and the role of
GFOs (General Farm Organizations)
under this bill. The Regional
Directors of OFA and the Executive
of the Grey County Federation of
Agriculture are available to answer
questions and concerns.
The next meeting of the GCFA
Board of Directors is at 8:00 p.m. on
Thursday, December 15, 1993, and
we welcome visitors.0
Karl Braeker
OFA Regional Director
for Grey South
GREY COUNTY
FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
Directors' Meeting
Thursday, December 16, 1993
OMAF Boardroom, Markdale
8:00 p.m.
Members are welcome to attend