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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2002-03-13, Page 10ci Your Community Newspaper Sino 1860 Terri -Lynn Hart - Publisher Pat Armes - Office Manager Scott Hilgendorff - Editor Dianne NlGrait - SstbaPions/Cbsstiieds Susan Hundertmark - Reporter Katrina Dietz - Sales Anne Roden - Distribution 11 Bowes Publishers Limited 7 *Oen Malts Cooperation - A (prsav CEJ E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnef.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 32.50 a year, in advance, plus 2.28 G.S.T. SENIORS: - 30.00 a year, in advance, plus 2.10 G.S.T. USA & Foreign: 28.44 a year in advance, plus $78.00 postage, G.S.T. exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Published weekly by Signal-Stor Publishing at 11 Main St., Seaiorth. Publication mail registration No. 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising spode occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable dlawarce for signature, wig not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rote. In the event of a typographical erns, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely on offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or domoge of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliverable copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor. Wednesday, March 14, 2000 Editorial dad Maleese Offices • 11 Mai Eitutef.,IsduiM INI•pitoeo 1519) 527,0140 he (11O) 11!•1040 Mollies Address • P.O Ilea N, Seater*, Oatarie, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association • Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 "We ac the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." Editorial Different kinds of spirit will be found on ice this weekend This weekend sees an interesting juxtaposition of hockey at Seaforth and District Community Centres. Friday night sees the Centenaires taking on the Port Stanley Takers as the Cents advanced through the Morenz Division last week after putting Lucan out of an exciting series that went to seven games. The Centenaires' executive and management started the season with hopes of being able to rebuild the team. They succeeded and have found a group of players who have almost consistently shown a drive to win this season. While the Centenaires take to the ice Friday and Sunday night at 8 p.m., the daytime action leading upto those games comes from the annual Knights of Columbus tournament. At the opposite end of the hockey spectrum, the tournament focyses on school aged children and giving inexperienced skaters a chance to play on a hockey team. The emphasis is not on winning but on having fun and learning sportsmanship. Separate schools participate in the tournament and include junior and senior divisions with youth of varying ice experience. Either way, there will be good hockey to watch because you can bet, because both sets of players will be making sure they make the most of their time on the ice, for love of the game. Come on out this weekend and support both your youth and Centenaires with the same enthusiasm the players will be bringing on the ice. Scott Hilgendorff Letters to the be made to seafo All tetters and accomp number. All for both Dont WWW. Farmers seeking more safety net fundin2 By Jack Wilkinson, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture For almost a year, Ontario farmers have been taking information to our elected representatives in Ottawa showing a desperate need for additional safety net funding. Back benchers recognized the need, and we believe they did their best to make members of Cabinet understand that need. Several days ago the Hon. Lyle Vanclief, our minister of agriculture, announced 500 million dollars in additional funding for farmers across Canada. That was 400 million dollars short of what was needed, and the farmers of this country are not willing to accept this continued mistreatment by the leaders of our country. That's why we're preparing for a day of action on March 14 -- to try and show the members of Cabinet that they underestimated the level of frustration and the determination of farmers. We have seen how Members of Parliament from across Ontario have gone to bat for our farmers, attempting to convince members of the Federal Cabinet of the critical need for the level of funding that was requested. With the minister's announcement, we have seen how the Federal Cabinet Ministers are prepared to allow a critical segment of our society and our economy to suffer and be forced from their farms. Fanners in the United States and the European Union have been provided with levels of support by their governments several times greater than what Canadian farmers get from our government. This has put our farmers at a severe economic disadvantage. The situation has gone on for more than a year. When the current government took power in 1993, Federal Government support farmers was at the three billion dollar level. Then the need to reduce the deficit was recognized and farmers were among the first to experience government cuts to their programs. Cuts were so dramatic that we were left well below the levels of the U.S. and the European Union. We're at the point now where some of our farmers can't afford to plant a crop this spring, their creditors aren't being paid, and lending institutions are demanding repayment or threatening foreclosure action. Agriculture has been a strong economic contributor to this country for years. In Ontario almost 700,000 jobs are the result of the agri-food industry, and agriculture's exports amount to 25 billion dollars per year. The provincial government has committed to its 40 per cent share of the 60/40 safety net funding program. We believe a strong case was made and presented for the federal government to come up with 180 million for Ontario producers. That didn't happen with the minister's announcement on March 2, and now the farmers of this province are expecting to be joined by farmers from across the country on March 14 to demonstrate to the political leaders of this country just how dissatisfied they are. We want to get adequate returns from the marketplace, but because of the subsidies paid by U.S. and E.U. governments to their producers, global prices have fallen and our farmers can’t even recover their cost of production from the sale of their produce. We hope this distortion of the marketplace is only temporary, but it has gone on long enough now that our producers have run out of options. Our Prime Minister and our Minister of Agriculture have spoken with officials of the U.S. and European countries, requesting their action to reduce support payments to their farmers. We know this won't happen soon enough to return profitability to the marketplace. Because of this, we are counting on our governments, both federal and provincial, to provide the necessary safety net funding to keep our farmers in business until the global situation is rectified. If any of the "day of action" activity inconveniences the public, we ask that public to think of the value of a domestic food supply and the farmers that keep it on our supermaket shelves and relay their discontent to the political leaders in Ottawa. They knew the need, and they had the supporting documentation for an adequate response, but decided not to take this country's farmers seriously. We hope our "day of action" will demonstrate our determination to get the safety net funding we need and deserve. It is our hope farmers from every part of the province will participate and encourage their urban neighbors to come out and show their support. Details of the activities will be published on OFA's website at www.ofa.on.ca and local federation leaders will be able to provide all the necessary information. Farmers urged to get financial figures to Steckle to support need of help Huron farmers are urged to get their production and financial figures to MP Paul Steckle says the Huron Federation of Agriculture. Even though governments have admitted that the playing field is tilted, it seems they still require hard numbers to base their decisions for enhanced support. "We need to support our requests for a level playing field with US producers, by providing financial losses per acre," says Huron Federation Director Wayne Hamilton of Stanley Township. Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle, in a recent speech to the House of Commons was able to supply some financial figures from an actual grains and oil seed producer in Huron County. The figures quoted showed a loss of approximately $90 per acre, from a well- established farm operation. The local Federation is encouraging grains and oilseed farmers in similar circumstances to come forward with their figures from 2000. In discussion with Paul Steckle's office, the local MP has indicated a willingness to accept these figures. "It seems that Ag Canada is not supplying income numbers sector by sector, therefore the financial losses in the grains and oilseeds, whether for cash or feed purposes, is not readily available to our politicians," says Hamilton. "At the present time, we don't even have a signed agreement for the Market Revenue Insurance Program for 2001, let alone a commitment for the enhancements that farm groups continue to lobby for," he said. Please forward your numbers to Paul Steckle's constituency office as soon as possible. We have been assured that all names will be held in confidence. Farmers take protest to highways today Angry about the Federal Government's failure to take seriously their need for adequate safety net funding, Ontario's farmers are preparing for a day of action on March 14. Activities are being planned for Ottawa, Guelph and the roadways in between. Details of the action are still being developed, but on the heels of increasingly large demonstrations in Embrun, Cornwall and Winchester where a total of more than 4,000 farmers appeared on streets and highways with tractors, combines and trucks, "the Ottawa action will be appropriately large," says Jack Wilkinson, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. "We have written the federal Members of Parliament from Ontario thanking them for all their work in the lobby process," Wilkinson says, "but the Cabinet failed to understand the need of our farmers. "Traditionally, Ontario farmers are reluctant to get involved in major demonstrations, but under today's financial crisis situation, they have been pushing hard for something like we expect to happen on March 14," he says. The $500 million announced by the federal minister of agriculture, Hon. Lyle Vanclief, was $400 million short of what was needed on a national basis, Wilkinson explains, and even with the anticipated 40 per cent from the provincial governments, the final result would be far below the $1.5 billion needed. "We need to catch the attention of the members of the Federal Cabinet to ensure they understand how serious the farmers of this country Eve about protecting the future of their industry and Canada's ability to feed its people," Wilkinson says. "If it takes a major day of action in Ontario to accomplish this, then it will happen," he concludes. Rural aging and its impact is focus of forum by District Health Council The Grey Bruce Huron Perth District Health Council (DHC) will host a special forum called Rural Aging - Future Impacts on our Rural Communities on March 23 in Stratford. The proportion of the Grey Bruce Huron Perth population aged 65 or older is already among the highest in Canada and this trend is expected to continue as existing residents age in their home communities and new retirees take up residence in our beautiful area. The future impacts or opportunities this trend will have on our local rural communities will be the key topic discussed at this conference. Speakers and topics include: Rural Aging and Future Changes to Health Services by Steven Lewis, Access Consulting and Karen Henderson, the Caregiver Network; Trends in Cultural and Tourism Experiences for Seniors by D'Arcy McKittrick, Tourism Company and Pat Quigley, Stratford Festival; Potential changes to the Local Work Force and "Who's Going to Take Over the Family Farm?" by Mike Elliott, Human Resources Development Canada and Peter Coughler, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Aging Communities: Impacts/Opportunities for Municipalities and Housing Developments by Mayor George Farkouh, Elliott Lake and Malcolm Ross, Life Lease Associates. "The day promises to be an excellent opportunity for people who live or work in our four counties to get together and hear some ideas about the future of aging and how local businesses, organizations and communities can meet these future challenges and opportunities," said Jeff Wilbee, Chair of the DHC. The Grey Bruce Huron Perth District Health Council is a regional health planning body funded by the Ministry of Health and was created in March 1998 through the merger of the former Huron -Perth and Grey -Bruce DHCs. It is responsible for advising the Minister of Health on local health needs and resources required to meet those needs. In addition to preparing plans and reports for different parts of the health care system, the DHC staff also work with local service providers to achieve better coordination of services. The Rural Aging Forum is scheduled for Friday, March 23 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford. For more information or a registration form, contact the Health Council at 519-348-4498 or 1-888-648-3712.