The Rural Voice, 1988-04, Page 96BRUCE
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
519-364-3050
' The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County federation members by the BCFA.
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
BCFA DIRECTORS' MEETING
March 1, 1988
The March meeting covered many
topics and some controversial issues
were addressed as well. The lobby trip
to Toronto presented the issues of:
sources for agricultural financing, direct
assistance to farmers, free trade, assis-
tance for restructured farmers, and the
inequality of subsidization between
provinces. These were discussed with
the ministries of Trade and Commerce,
Agriculture and Food, the Treasury
Department, and the Progressive Con-
servative agriculture critic Noble Ville-
neuve.
We were cautioned by our field
representative about the Canadian
Ranch & Farm Services, a club now in
Ontario.
The Bruce County Federation of
Agriculture will have a booth at the
Chesley Agri -Fair in April. A meet the
members meeting as well as a lobby trip
to Ottawa are also planned for April. We
will let the MPs know we are serious
about our issues.
The regional directors report on the
February meeting informed us that a
resolution to boycott the FCC had been
lost. The debt -review process still ap-
pears to have problems reaching a
signed agreement. The dropping of
"pork" from the Grenville Resolution
was discussed at some length.
The BCFA encourages the OMMB
to press to maintain the present OFFIRR
program. The OFA membership contin-
ues to slide because of the reduction of
farmers and also some inability to pay
dues. Bruce County may lose a regional
director if membership is not kept up.0
OPINION:
THE GRENVILLE RESOLUTION
By now, probably every farmer in
Ontario has heard of the Grenville Reso-
lution. It is our view that the great debate
that has surrounded this humble piece of
literature and led to its eventual destruc-
tion points out some disturbing features
of farm politics. For the sake of clarity,
let us review the facts.
The Grenville Resolution was
passed at the 1986 annual OFA conven-
tion. It called for a general vote in all
red -meat commodities to let every pro-
ducer have his say on the choice be-
tween free -enterprise marketing and
some sort of market intervention. Sev-
eral commodity boards protested loudly
that the OFA was interfering with what
should be an internal decision. The
strongest opposition came from the
OPPMB which, in so many words, told
the OFA: "mind your own business."
For 12 months the battle raged and,
not surprisingly, when OFA delegates
met for their 1987 convention there was,
on the agenda, a resolution seeking to
overturn "Grenville." The "Middlesex
Resolution" cited as reasons: 1) that
marketing systems had been adequately
debated, and 2) that to proceed would
tear the organization apart. After a
lengthy and heated debate, this motion
was soundly defeated.
Less than three months later, follow-
ing threats from the OPPMB to withhold
its S26,000 annual fee, the OFA's board
of directors voted to exclude pork from
any further efforts toward a free vote.
First of all, let us say that the position
of the OPPMB executive is completely
indefensible. If they are so sure that a
majority of their members favour the
present marketing system, then get on
with the vote! They will surely be vin-
dicated. Their stubborn resistance to a
free vote demonstrates that they fear the
grassroots producer may have a differ -
94 THE RURAL VOICE
ent view. If every producer were given
his say, the results might demand
change, and so the executive, intent on
maintaining the status quo, decided to
ensure that every producer does not
have his say.
The action of the OFA board of
directors which, in effect, has given in to
blackmail, leaves many members ques-
tioning the integrity of our general farm
organization. A major issue of policy,
debated and upheld by two consecutive
conventions, was, in 20 minutes, dis-
mantled by 100 or so directors who were
not even notified ahead of time that the
subject would be raised.
Can a measly S26,000 buy the policy
of the Ontario Federation of Agricul-
ture? Or is it just that we can't stand
anything controversial? One thing is
sure, a precedent has been set. From
now on, every commodity group, from
beekeepers to beef, will think it can
bully the OFA and get away with it.
Ironically, both the OFA and the
OPPMB have failed in maintaining that
basic principle of democratic govern-
ment: accountability. If farm groups are
to be effective, it must be made clear that
the voice of the rank and file member is
heard and acted upon at the highest
level.0
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce County Federation of Agriculture
Public Relations Committee
Note: Each month this
page will contain an item of
opinion on some current
farm issue. We would like
to know what you think. If
your opinion differs from
the one you have read
here, or if you support our
view, call the office at 364-
3050.0