The Rural Voice, 1999-12, Page 42Award winner
unloads on
government
He was given an award to say
thanks for his efforts on behalf of
Bruce and Grey county farmers to
get drought relief but his acceptance
speech gave Bill Dav,is a chance to
express his frustration with trying to
convince government they
need to help.
In presenting her
volunteer of the year
award, Gertie Blake, OFA
Field Representative for
Grey and Bruce, said
Davis had taken on the
burden of a thankless job
in trying to get help for
farmers hard hit by the
droughts of 1997 and 1998
in the area. She thought he
deserved thanks even if the
results were not all people
had hoped when the
drought relief committee
was formed.
Davis said "it's just
about impossible to work
with government," noting
the provincial legislature
only sat for about nine days from the
beginning of 1999 until this fall. The
group had met with former
Agriculture Minister Noble
Villeneuve but little progress was
made. Since then they had met with
current minister Ernie Hardeman. "It
was probably the worst meeting I've
ever had with a politician," Davis
exploded. "He's totally a yes-man for
the government. He's just there to
protect the government's money."
He compared the Ontario
government's reaction to that of the
premiers of Manitoba and
Saskatchewan who were "busting
their butts" to convince Ottawa to
give more aid to western farmers hit
with a combination of bad prices and
bad weather.
Davis said the stories of the
drought's effects included in letters
accompanying surveys completed by
farmers hit by the drought were sad
enough to make him cry.
He said he wouldn't say the
News
committee had given up in its efforts
to gain help for those hit by drought
but he wasn't holding out much hope
for success.
His experience with the issue was
supported by Ron Bonnett, vice-
president of the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture who called it "an
exercise in frustration". OFA is still
working on the taxation issues
involved in having to sell oft herds
Bill Davis receives the Volunteer of the Year
Award for the Bruce County Federation of
Agriculture from OFA Field Rep Gertie Blake.
because of the lack of feed. In
addition, declaring the region a
disaster area helped only in capital
loses, not operating loses caused by
lack of rain or lack of feed, he said.
He said the Agricultural Income
Disaster Assistance (AIDA) program
still has lots of holes which OFA is
working to solve.
Bonnett referred to Prime Minister
Jean Chretien's meeting with western
premiers in which he said new
figures show the farm income
situation is not as bad as publicized.
But OFA met with Statistics Canada
and "nobody believed the figures
they used," he said.
In the last three years farm income
is down 30 per cent and farm debt is
up 50 per cent, Bonnett said. "Don't
believe that the issue isn't as bad as
they say (it is)."
There was also a warning that the
income tax situation for those selling
logs from their woodlot has been
changed. Formerly, timber was taxed
as a capital gain hut now the income
from a timher sale is included a,
income for that year.
"Talk to your accountant before
you make any deals to sell timber."
Genie Blake advised.
Murray Clark of Kincardine was
acclaimed to another term as
president of the Bruce County
Federation while Jayne Dietrich of
Mildmay was returned as first vice-
president and Rick Robson of
Kincardine was acclaimed second
vice president.
Other executive members are
Peter Canning of Clifford, Bill Davis
of Dobbinton. Lloyd Graham of
Lucknow and Ken Holtby of
Kincardine.
OFA regional directors are Allan
Smith of Tara for Bruce North, Bob
Bregman of Teeswater for Bruce
South, and Rick Robson for Bruce
West.O
Rural water quality
program started
in Wellington
The County of Wellington and the
City of Guelph have joined forces to
help local farmers improve and
protect water quality in the county.
The County has allocated $900,000
to the five-year program, while the
City of Guelph is supplying
$450,000. This money will be
matched by rural landowners who
implement projects to improve and
protect surface and groundwater in
the County.
Wellington County Warden, Barb
Tocher says, "Improving and
protecting water quality will ensure
that all,residents of Guelph and
Wellington County will continue to
enjoy the benefits of a safe clean
w.ater supply." Healthy rivers and
streams add to the high quality of lite
and the local economy through
increased recreation and tourism
opportunities. City of Guelph
Councilor, Christine Billings says.
"Protecting and improving water
quality for all residents and future
generations is simply the right thing
for the City and the County to do".
The Rural Water Quality Program is
DECEMBER 1999 39