HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2003-12-31, Page 5Opinions
Letters
OFA congratulates farmers who ran,
voted in recent municipal elections
From Pogo 4
This document was intended to
encourage farmers to get involved in
the municipal elections, both as voters
and as candidates. OFA wants to
congratulate all farmers who ran for
council positions. Many were
successful, and to those who weren't,
your efforts are much appreciated by
all farmers.
We have seen a significant shift in
rural population demographics in
recent years, a shift that has reduced
the number of farmers serving on
municipal councils and consequently
farmer input into local decisions.
Without that input, bylaws and
other actions taken by municipal
councils are creating difficult
situations for farmers in many areas
of the province. Some of the principle
areas where these situations are
impacting farmers and their
businesses have been with municipal
official plans and comprehensive
zoning bylaws, and bylaws directing
nutrient management planning.
OFA and its partner organizations
in the Ontario Farm Environmental
Coalition have spent years working
with provincial government officials
developing the Nutrient Management
Legislation that was passed last year,
and then putting together the
regulations under that legislation.
Unfortunately, problems arose with
the process in approving those
regulations, and the province -wide
coverage farmers and their
organizations sought has been
delayed.
Some municipalities with specific
environmental agendas have viewed
this as an opportunity to pass local
nutrient management regulations, and
OFA is concerned this approach will
result in a multitude of problems, not
only for farmers and agriculture, but
for the environment.
Municipal councils also play
significant roles in drainage systems
that agriculture depends on for
efficient crop production. Without
farmer input to decisions regarding
municipal drains, OFA is concerned
that agriculture's interests will be
ignored.
Some of the other areas where
municipal council decisions play a
major role in how farm
and rural development takes place
include everything from the
protection of drinking water quality
and the relationship between farming
and conservation authorities to the
construction and maintenance of rural
roads and bridges. If farmers aren't
involved by providing input that
reflects agriculture's concerns on
issues, the agriculture sector stands to
suffer.
This is why the Ontario Federation
of Agriculture is promoting the
establishment of agricultural advisory
committees in every municipality.
These committees would consult with
municipal councils on a regular basis,
taking the issues farmers find
important to them, their families and
their businesses to the local council.
These committees already exist in
some jurisdictions, but to ensure the
farm voice is heard uniformly across
the province by all municipal councils
that have agriculture within their
boundaries, OFA wants all areas to
take the necessary steps to have
agricultural advisory committees in
operation.
'Ron Bonnett, President,
'Ontario Federation
of Agriculture
Wish to Santa was for long winter's nap
From Page 4
I wasn't sure if I would go
to work Monday - thank
goodness for e-mail - and I
wasn't sure if I'll be able to
drag my sorry flu -weakened
body into work for
production day on Tuesday.
(My apologies, Sara).
I do know that after ,
working full -tilt for the
whole month of December
both at the newspaper and at
home in preparation for both
Christmas and a December
birthday party, I was ripe for
the fall.
We super -moms do fly
pretty high most of the time
but too much kryptonite will
bring us down eventually.
I did ask Santa for a long
winter's nap this year.
I just wish I could figure
out a way to get one without
being coated in Vicks Vapo-
Rub and clutching a box of
Kleenex.
Huron Perth Connects program
to avoid search engine failure
By Paul Cluff
Special to The Expositor
Anyone who has
attempted research online
using the popular "enter a
key word" method can
relate to Linda Wilcox's pet
peeve.
"Have you ever tried to
Google your way to health
care and found 624,000 hits
on Alzheimer's disease and
treatment?" Wilcox asked
Nov. 26.
It's a generic example of
using a search engine but
it's the type of situation 41
community partners in the
Huron Perth Connects
program are trying to avoid.
The program will connect
key community sectors,
among them business,
economic development,
tourism, municipal,
agriculture, libraries,
museums, archives, health,
caring and youth, and make
them more accessible and
easy to find.
It will also support local
business as they adapt c -
commerce, increase visitor
attraction across rural parts
of the region and raise
awareness of the Internet's
value.
A hired consultant,
Lanark Network Associates,
completed a business plan
and it has been submitted to
Connect Ontario - a
provincially -funded
program that aims to
enhance competitiveness
for communities in the new
digital economy. Huron
Perth Connects should
know whether they will
receive funding from
Connect Ontario by March
of next year, said consultant
and senior partner at
Lanark, Debbie Millar.
Most of the project
partners were gathered at
the Seaforth Community
Centre recently for an
update on the $2.7 million
venture. They were also
afforded the opportunity to
share their information
which could soon be
available on-line.
Of the total cost,
$708,938 has been
contributed by partners
while $885,683 came from
in-kind contributions.
The group is asking for
just under $1.1 million.
Wilcox, representing
shared library services at
South Huron Hospital, said
a filtered source of
electronic health care
information would erase the
need for random searches.
Health units, community
care access centres and the
Alzheimer Society could
also be included in the
community portal.
The business end could
include a directory to find
anything from a local bed
and breakfast to a plumber.
"It's better networking,"
said Ralph Laviolette, a
growth, business and
economic development
,representative for Huron
East.
Feedback from the
agriculture sector weighed
heavily into the pins.
Jane Muegge of the
Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food said
2,200 farmers have
computers in Huron and
Perth and 75 per cent of
them are online.
"It's a great opportunity
for us to work with the
agriculture industry," said
Muegge. Farmers could be
updated on weather,
business news and other
information.
"We see great opportunity
with this ...we're looking
forward to the
partnerships."
Other perks could include
a Web -based library system,
on-line genealogical and
archival listings and a link
to youth information, which
could include jobs and
sections on teen health and
the local music scene.
Project partners will be
kept up to date on their
element and overall
progress through e-mail,
reports and group meetings.
Millar said once approval
comes through, things will
move quickly.
The project is expected to
take two years to become
operational.
A full support team will
be put in place including
technical support and an
office. "We're going to
market the heck out of this
thing," said Millar.
Catherine Rodrigues,
senior advisor with the
Ministry of Economic
Development and Trade,
said the Ministry could
approve the full amount,
give conditional approval
(with some further feedback
required from the applicants
before okaying) or turn
down funding altogether,
which rarely happens.
Two Connect Ontario
programs are up and
running, in Chatham -Kent
and Oxford counties.
Windsor -Essex is close to
starting, while St. Thomas -
Elgin and Guelph -
Wellington have recently
received funding approval.
Cheryl Heath photo
Holiday fun
Dozens of area children
had the chance to enjoy
Christmas -themed
activities at . the
Vanastra Recreation
Centre last week as
part of the municipality
of Huron East
recreation departments'
Kids Christmas
programs, from Dec. 22
- 31. Seen showing their
artwork are (front)
Kristy, 5, and Jessie, 5.
In the back are Jenna,
9, Nicole, 9, David, 7
and Melissa, 7. Roc
centre staff didn't wish
to have last names
used.
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, DECEMBER 31, 2003-5
DEEP MUSCLE THERAPY
.Promotes Healing
& Relaxation
•Reduces Stress
•Reduce Muscle Pain
-Retlexolog) -
- Gilt l cftlli ..,t -
Star) Jr.m \1 1 eoJ
so Ndh.uu Si
I _ its.t,e, Iur. o...
522-0557 ,
. jolt's •
& Auction Inc.
A New Year
Another
New Truckload
Bayfield Rd. Clinton
482-9364
Fri. 10-6, Sot. 9-4. Sun. 12-4
ESTHETICS
BY BONNIE
Bonnie Johnston
• reflexology
• gift certificates
• manicures
• Icures
• facials
• waxing
• make-up
92 Nest Wtlluun St
Stsr•ni,, ON NOK IWO
527-171
LEARN TO CARE
WITH CONFIDENCE
Attend a tour part education
series designed for families
caring for a person with
Alzheimer Disease or dementia.
Monday Evenings
In January
Beginning Jan. 5/04
Sessions Run From
7:00 to 8:30
Egmondville United Church
Call 482-1482 or
1-800-561-5012 for more
information and to register.
Dominion Driver Training
Wishing to remind you of their
4 Day Course
Dec. 22, 2003
In Clinton and Exeter
( Exeter class has moved to
the Town Hall)
8 WEEK COURSES
CLINTON FEB. 4/04
To register call Carol Blake 527 - 1891
or 1-800-665-3027
Visit our Web Page for more information
www.dominiondrivertraining.on.ca
"Zieected e4 t4e Glltj#L etuo •,
Denture Specialist
Dean R. McTaggart D.D.
T
C
Complete and
Partial Dentures
Denture Repairs
Relines - Additions
482-1195
50 ALBERT STREET CLINTON
CHUA CHURCHRCH
NT OF
GRACE TRINITY COMMUNITY CHURCH
527-0029
Fellowship at 7:00 pm
- Pastoral Team:
Pastor Bob Penhearow
Pastor Ron Matthews
Pastor Royal Hamel
SVM M. V W. -r -•,rM
to attend these
area churches
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
Jarvis St. Seaforth
Fr. Michael Atkins Parish Office 482-7881
The Second Sunday of Christmas
Worship - 9:30 am
Sermon: The New Gentiles
A Warm Welcome Awaits YouFather
Catholic Church
St. James RC Church
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
527-0142
Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm
Sun. 11:00 am
St. Cblumban RC Church
Saturday Mass at 7:30 pm .
Lance Magdziak
Bethel Bible Church
An Associated Gospel Church
1213 Main St. SeaforthUnited
527-0982
Sunday School 9:45 am
Sunday Worship Hour 11 am
Jim I'% - Pastor
Egmondville
Church
Sunday School 10:00 am
Worship Service 11:00 am
Sunday January 4th
sra Hildebrand Lay Pastoral
Minister M training
•
NORTHSIDE - VAN
UNITED CHURCHES
Cavan 9 30 a m. 11 00 e m Norlhtlee
Winthrop r,4 Gnderd, St W
Sunday January 4, 2004
Guest Speaker - Rev. June Kuepfer
Sacrament of Holy Communion
First Presbyterian
Church
Goderich St. W. Seaforth
Rev. Ted Nelson
Interim Minister
Sunday, January 4th
Worship 11:15 am