HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-01-20, Page 19Jim Wheeler, Ag
By Jim Brown
Citizen staff
A former Brussels-area resident
was the guest speaker at the annual
meeting of the Brussels Agricultural
Society held Friday evening at the
Brussels-Morris-Grey Community
Centre.
Jim Wheeler, the son of Lloyd and
Helen, is the assistant deputy
minister of the policy and farm
finance division of the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
He grew up on the 8th of Grey
Twp.. now Brandon Road, and he
left the area over 30 years ago.
Wheeler said he has been with
OMAF for 30 years and he was
pretty familiar with a number of
farm programs because he grew up
on a farm.
He said a lot of people are not
aware of the fact that, even though
he is an assistant deputy minister, he
is not elected.
“I have really enjoyed my time
with the ministry,” he told those in
attendance.
During his 30 years in OMAF,
Wheeler has worked in a number of
departments within the ministry.
“I like to look at the agri-business
and help (agricultural) societies with
some of their challenges,” he said.
He said his branch of the ministry,
like the other branches, is always
looking to provide solutions for
various problems.
He stated that he believes fall fairs
and agricultural societies are
important, especially as it pertains to
rural life.
According to Wheeler, he has been
asked if he remembered going to the
Brussels fair.
“I remember going to the fair with
my parents,” he said. “I also
remember cleaning up the Crystal
Palace afterwards.”
He said his parents were presented
a plaque a few years ago for all their
years of volunteering for the fair.
“They are proud of that plaque,”
said Wheeler.
In regards to policy issues being
faced by the ministry, he said the
Canadian Agricultural Income
Stabilization (CAIS) program is a
good program.
He added that Steve Peters is a
good provincial agriculture minister.
Wheeler added that as a bureaucrat
in OMAF he gets to meet his
counterparts from other provinces
and from the federal government on
numerous occasions to discuss
policies.
I
Society speaker
were farms all up and down the
sideroads of the township.
“They just aren’t there today,’’
stated Wheeler.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2005. PAGE 19.
He stated the BSE crisis cost the
agricultural industry in Ontario
around $820,000,000.
Wheeler said the province has
allocated between $250,000,000 and
$300,000,000 for smaller Ontario
communities over the next few
years.
Love from parents
Bill and Janice Smith,
Jordan, Zachary
and grandparents
Guest speaker
Former Brussels-area resident Jim Wheeler was the guest
speaker at the Brussels Agricultural Society meeting held
Friday evening at the Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre. Following his presentation he received
a picture. (Jim Brown photo)
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When a farmer is not doing well,
he is not the only one suffering.
“When a farmer is not doing well,
the small rural communities are not
doing well," said Wheeler.
He said it is difficult to make a
living by farming alone in today’s
world. There was a time when there jtappy, l&t
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January 19, 2005
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