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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-02-25, Page 66—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, FEBRUARY 25, 2004 News Property reclassification could close maple syrup facility By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff A reclassification for property tax purposes that could see many 'farm properties change from agriculture to industrial operations, could put a local maple syrup producer out of business. "There are a lot of producers saying this isn't worth the hassle. It's not going to be worth being in business anymore," said George Roney, owner of Spring Valley Products in Staffa. "It doesn't matter whether you are tapping 10 trees or 30. If you have a product that's being sold, you will be hit by this." Roney said he first received notice of the reclassification at the November meeting of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers. He said MPAC (the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) began reclassifying facilities in eastern Ontario, the largest area of producers. A Woodstock hobby farmer was assessed and with the reclassification his taxes would go up more than $500, said Roney. "It's all just very sudden, that one hobby farmer was assessed without any notice," he said. But, Roney said it is not just maple syrup producers that are being reclassed. Ontario farmers producing commodities as diverse as fruits and vegetables and hatching eggs, will find their facilities reclassified as industrial. "Any farmer that has value added product to their property will he reclassified," he said. "If you're selling eggs from your home or have a fruit and vegetable stand at a farmer's market you will be affected by this. And, it's going to hurt a lot of people." Ontario Federation of Agriculture President Ron Bonnett stated in a press release that "this reclassification is adding thousands of dollars to tax bills" with taxes for these farm assets rising four to ten times. "This (reclassification) abuses the definition of farming," he said. Bonnett made the comments to Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sobara when they met last month to discuss the reclassification and other issues facing the province's ,farming community. "OFA asks that there be no further such reclassifications for such value-added farm facilities, and that the changes of the past six months be reversed," said Bonnett. "Minister Sobara recognized the need to take immediate action with respect to assessment issues." Paul Nairn, member service representative for the Huron and Perth Federation of Agriculture, said the OFA wants the government to work with MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) to develop an acceptable definition of agriculture for assessment purposes. "There are still many questions up in the ai right now like what is the definition of agriculture, how will properties be assessed and who will be assessed," Cheryl Heath photo Heartland Credit Union donation Sandra Jansen, director of the Seaforth Cooperative Children's Centre accepts a S500 donation from by Marl Dobson, board chairwoman for the Heartland Communtiy Credit Union in Clinton. said Nairn. "There are thousands of maple syrup facilities in Ontario and many MPAC may not know about because they are not listed or members of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers." Roney said at the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers meeting, it was said the MPAC gets a percentage of every increase on assessments. "They're generating more income for themselves with every property they assess," he said. MPAC is a crown corporation and is is responsible for assessing the value annually of the 4.2 million properties in the province, providing the information on which property tax bills are based. "The government says it won't raise taxes but they're doing it through assessments," he said. "They are starting with the little guy first and that just happens to be the maple syrup producers. Something just seems to be out to get the farmers this year. Agriculture is being hit hard." Sara Campbell photo George Roney, owner of Spring Valley Products in Staffa, checks the lines along his property to prepare for the new season despite fears that a property reclassification could put many of Ontario maple syrup producers out of business. Steckle promises Liberals will get to bottom of federal scandal By Cheryl Heath Special to The Huron Expositor Heads will roll. That is the promise of Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle in light of the $250 - million sponsorship scandal, recently brought to light by Auditor General Sheila Fraser, that is rocking the federal Liberal Party to its core. Steckle, who acknowledges feeling shocked and outraged by the auditor's findings, says what makes the situation so grievous is money was exchanged for work that was not completed in the name of what was otherwise a good cause - namely promoting federalism in Quebec. THE 2004 FREESTAR HAS EARNED FIVE STARS - THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE U.S. GOVERNMENT CRASH -TEST RATING FOR FRONT IMPACT FOR BOTH DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER., OVER 100 INNOVATIONS INCLUDING THE 3RD ROW HIDE 'n' GO SEAT. FREISTAR SPORT MODEL SHOWN FOR NO MONEY DOWN Lease Ford Freesias Base for 3rd Row Seating t,d Row folded • 4.21. SPI V6 Engine • 4 -Speed Automatic Transmission • 4 -Wheel ABS Brakes • SecurILoce • Power Windows/locks/Mirrors • 7 -Passenger Seating • Ak Conditioning • AM/FM Stereo • Tilt Steering per month! 4/ merger t.1.. with SO down payment SO secui[ry Oh the prdal/ el Wolters' Ind $1,016 height The extended lith Ford Fnestar gives you mon cargo room for about the same price as those shorter minivans." /)It Ft)R ~-47* mola: \ mt1\'I11. t, 1 1 1• I4 11 I'-% It til.. 11 I l 11... i•• tie TIM IN CANADA • Advanceltac' Stats ty System • All -Speed Traction Control • Brake Assist • Reverse Sensing System PLUS • CD Player • Quad Captain's Chairs OR CHOOSk PURCHASE FINANCING 5 -YEAR TERM on ANY new 2004 FREESTAR VISIT YOUR ONTARIO FORD DEALER Built for life in Ontario (load , NIP 111111i sae wow auIIEaIK 01111 tare me 26)1 hawk areqigiMpilli hnenTllertMile►rint/AMM(Asle BOM/b03001prON" SIM1nveillos rdrd01%endi1eme* Moe Ian rod CNia ”Nei reqs Ms* Si 4 era 1w Nes eel* 1 $17,73241‘411 sora .d a bleep, numeric se De .`Coo IN Mr el NM qA A erect l d I Dili pe I I ew mho; *Miro kir see Wale tem rev mMdr'1p, *(rd$0Ou pIMw1 SO SIMS Nal MInPalm d m0 5peab SeeI361RWOWO Wien leeeMailNSW beereibmifitIrode Pe oilmen tarenearrdter apdstlMpitewe re re ea cooed/ fes awe t0 b ale ao M icer mer rd w Zol el SIM IM Meet b ono atllemm+ MMOr1 MMomw icor PbM l te to 160:0 M 2/ le mil Fog res 0 !dna on M mein win "0% ponies *por 9 on M Mm 20M Wass muses re t mermen d e0 roes b n5 airmen o wool ae� Ades Fad cell I4 C1t000 Rover r 0% sero 50 illi web $: 11 b 00 wee. ass d D reset* d II 000 pride ar0TI IT 00o Web a cell Dell mei** 20M 'eeee* The bee a a l f70000 fir glare nw d rine 16 Sea don psebil Mr re relied/ Mid of ippm�p I I Iwo cMed* *Miller Pectase pm Fres meed be aIr Prier give. we fres beer I Mtn' drill Herein roe ►1 con enc ude So s dl flet cocoa. Timm. em*MaNce Nes rd r spike* NM till MOW req dpPN bre (reoaede Si:VW pews u++la Ire On oleo rp be wake aF vi ese *tor mere Sora cmaeas yds meso >a clad r amen nnimrimesrdan* e ceedSeeOearbdIRNr01Mrreplerb510n1ttermist*Ip.0bIlleldankmosMeodesastoodnodesinsb).Npima;nteIuaeeempapalxotySecadmmupwridao►rd 'grimMag Peon n Wed* Si Pe wile* Mee Pbe d le 7001 Fneeb SI /d NM* *Me a aro hews mldslt NOW es 2001 OA. dim *Arlld pbet NMrs 2001 Simi o Hwa on) Are e eAM HI ren owl tie 2001 Fal Heft* tw wee no Aum it eget Mi Moan Mrs) b b* N res rd bo pimps In US 0I4I 1511 Welts > h MWalbafr' *O a NMG eo MSM FN PO Mr 2M0 (41+Ra !Hnm SAI 41 N ib "This is wrongdoing of the worst kind," says Steckle. "One wouldn't expect it at this level of government. We have got to get to the bottom of it." Still, Steckle has no plans to jump on the blame Paul Martin bandwagon. "He is very distressed about this," says Steckle. "Those who are guilty are going to have to pay the price." Steckle, who notes Martin has had cyc on Liberal leadership for more than a decade, says Steckle, adding he is not suggesting Chretien knew what was going on either. Rather, Steckle says an unfortunate side of politics is that ministers cannot micromanage each department in their portfolio because of the number of staff and scope of operations involved. He adds corrective measures to prevent a repeat of a similar scenario began under Chretien's regime and one of Martin's first acts of office when he became Prime Minster was to Quoted 'I have no doubt in my mind that Mr. Martin was kept from knowing what was going on: -- Paul Stedds, MP of Huron -Bruno the Prime Minister believes it is crucial to find those responsible for the mismanagement of public funds. He says though Martin was Finance Minister when the sponsorship scandal was under way, it is not fair to place the blame on his shoulders. "I have no doubt in my mind that Mr. Martin was kept from knowing what was going on." says Stecklc. Steckle says former prime minister lean Chretien, who resigned in December, effectively kept the auditor's report from being released in November, when it was ready to go, because the House of Commons was not in session. "There wasn't a lot of love between Mr. Martin and the (former) Prime Minister during the latter years," says cancel the sponsorship program outright. Steckle adds it is interesting the former Progressive Conservative government of Ontario doesn't get more media attention for claiming to have a balanced budget when an auditor's report subsequently revealed a $5.6 billion deficit. Ultimately, Steckle says the auditor general's report serves the public well as it points out major problems within the government structure that must be addressed. He points out Martin has vowed to resign if an investigation reveals he is to blame. "Paul Martin's been dealt a pretty difficult hand, but he did not control that hand," adds Steckle. Two Huron East men get 12 -hour suspension after found with alcohol on their breath A 23 -year- old Huron East Huron OPP man lost his licence for 12 hours and was also charged with a traffic offence for a quantity of open alcohol in his vehicle after he was stopped by Huron OPP in Brussels -on Feb. 21 at 9:30 p.m. The man's black 1998 Ford pick-up was stopped on Turnberry Street for travelling at a high ratc of speed. The driver was found with alcohol on his breath and was given a roadside test. Also on Feb. 21, a 20 -year- old North Huron man also lost his licence for 12 hours after he was stopped near Vanastra at 1:15 a.m. The man's tan 1990 Ford was stopped on Victoria Street after he was observed leaving a bar and driving towards Clinton on London Road. He had the odour of alcohol on his breath and blew a warn on the roadside alcotest. He was also charged with a traffic offence. On Feb. 22 at 12:15 a.m., a 37 -year-old Bluewater man lost his licence for 12 hours after he was stopped near Vanastra and blew a warn on a roadside alcotest.