The Rural Voice, 1998-05, Page 56current temporary exemption/refund
method. MPP Barb Fisher promised
to look into the issue with the
province.
She also urged everyone present
to familiarize themselves with the
Rural Job Strategy program and
make use of its services because "no
idea is too wild." The Market Grey -
Bruce committee presented a brief
recommending seed money for start
up costs of Grow Ontario and Rural
Jobs Strategy programs and reduced
paperwork which adds unnecessarily
to the program expenses.
MP Murray Calder, who left an
agricultural conference early in
Alberta to attend the Meet the
Members meeting, said that he has an
optimistic outlook on agriculture.
"The future looks good", but he
added that all farmers have to be
spokesmen for their industry. It does
not surprise him that the general
population has difficulty accepting
new and innovative approaches in
biotechnology. They are far removed
from farming realities. "At 2.9 per
News
cent of the population, we all have to
be ambassadors," he said.
The Grey -Bruce Pork Producers'
Association expressed concern about
a possible Pseudorabies outbreak in a
brief they presented and questioned
who would 'be responsible and
accountable to replace the income
lost due to an outbreak. They would
like to see stronger enforcement of
importation regulations to keep the
Canadian hog industry free of
Pseudorabies which is a major health
problem in the United States. MP
Ovid Jackson admitted there are
problems to be worked out. The
Asian market is not healthy for hogs
at the minute but he believes that will
turn around eventually.
In their brief, the Georgian Bay
Fruit Growers Inc. requested a
properly funded, stand alone program
be implemented for crop damage that
is comparable to crop insurance. The
NISA-style Self -Directed program is
very cost effective and a widely
accepted alternative to crop insurance
which has only 10 per cent producer
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52 THE RURAL VOICE
enrolment.
The Bruce and Grey Farm Safety
Associations are co-ordinating safety
seminars, Children Safety Day
Camps, displays and presentations
through a province -wide volunteer
program and requested that the
federal and provincial government
allocate funds to carry out this work.
The Proton Township Federation
of Agriculture called for a
strengthening of the Young
Offenders Act making identities
known and parents responsible for
their actions, and young offenders
prosecuted in adult court for serious
crimes.
While the lack of monetary
commitment at the meeting was
unacceptable to Bob Rodger, he was
pleased to see that the politicians
expressed genuine interest and
concern about the issues that are
facing the agricultural community.0
Huron MPs hear
briefs on wide variety
of topics
Briefs presented by Huron County
farm groups at the annual Huron
County Federation of Agriculture
Members of Parliament luncheon in
Clinton, April 4, brought up topics
ranging from the environment to
helping young farmers.
There was little of the fire that has
sometimes singed these meetings
over the years as Paul Steckle, MP
for Huron -Bruce and Kriss Snell,
sitting in for Huron MPP Helen
Johns, who was recovering in
hospital following minor surgery,
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