Huron Expositor, 2005-03-23, Page 5Opinion
Ontario government needs to help
farmers' growing frustration soon
From Page 4
the plug on that immediate
help and replace it with a
one-time payout for
diversifying prairie
agriculture and boosting the
value-added sectors.
Once gone, Manitoba set
out to export grain in pig
skins and Alberta did the
same on -the -hoof - until
BSE. Commodity grain
production in Ontario,
without value-added
activities, has meager
economic rewards in the
marketplace.
Isn't it time to redirect our
productive agricultural
resources to those activities
from which we can expect a
satisfactory reward?
Meanwhile the fine print in
the Lanark Landowners
Association's 11 resolutions
relies heavily on stronger
private property rights to
balance burgeoning
government regulations.
Coming from a landowners
organization, the solution is
very understandable: but 1
can't advise farm business
people to uncritically endorse
this remedy.
Think of the consequences,
should private property rights
be over -emphasized:
1. Ontario's drainage
legislation supports the
creation of drainage systems.
Enshrined property rights
would make it much harder
to create and maintain these
multiple -property drainage
projects.
2. Municipalities have
a responsibility to decide on
land use to the benefit of all.
More emphasis on individual
property rights will make it
much harder to protect our
best farmland from urban
sprawl for the business of
farming.
3. Agriculture, on
occasion, causes discomfort
News
because of noise, dust and
odour. Stronger property
rights will give farming's
many neighbours stronger
legal routes for raising
complaints.
Our provincial government
needs to heed the frustration
smoldering in the
countryside.
We, back on the farm, need
to develop better and more
doable solutions.
Elbert van Donkersgoed
P. Ag. is the Strategic Policy
Advisor of the Christian
Farmers Federation of
Ontario, Canada
Steckle says one per cent food
tax could help ailing farmers
By Cheryl Heath
News -Record Editor
Huron -Bruce MP Paul
Steckle says a 1 per cent food
tax with the spoils going to
agriculture could be the
answer that saves the day.
Steckle, who participated
in the Huron County
Federation of Agriculture's
annual MP/MPP luncheon at
the Betty Cardno Centre in
Clinton last week, lobbed the
idea after the four-hour
meeting wrapped up.
"What about a food tax?"
he asked, suggesting it would
be highly unlikely that
anyone would complain
about a 1 or 2 per cent food
tax if the proceeds went
directly to supporting
agriculture.
Steckle says the
introduction of the tax would
ensure all sectors of the
economy, including those
working in the white-collar
fields, were paying enough in
taxes to sustain the
agricultural industry.
He says, ironically, those
most opposed to the idea
seem to be farmers.
"The ones who turn me
down every time are the
farmers," he says, adding
agriculture will need more
cash infusions in the coming
years and the tax would solve
that problem.
It was a suggestion not
without its fair share of
critics.
Wayne Hamilton, of the
Huron County Federation of
Agriculture, says it is
ludicrous to introduce a new
— and undoubtedly
unpopular — tax when the
government could simply
rework the Income Tax Act
in order to ensure all
Canadians are paying their
fair share.
"We've got a tax system
now that's very capable of
taxing people. It's called the
income tax system," he says.
Hamilton says the tax
would also be unfairly
punitive to the working poor
as well as the under and
unemployed.
Bluewater Mayor Bill
Dowson, who is also a Varna -
area farmer, says the public
has a "terrible mistrust" when
it comes to the government's
handling of taxes.
He says there is also a good
chance the tax will never go
towards its intended purpose
as was the case with the tire
tax, among others.
Jason Middleton photo
Learning about
nature
Maggie Nigh, operations
coordinator at the Hullett
Wildlife Conservation Area,
shows children a bird's nest
that was inside a birdhouse
during a March Break activity
that prepared birdhouses for
the spring. From left, Keegan
Bechely, 5, of Seaforth and
Kristen Walsh. 6. of
Egmondville, look on.
New
program
to help
those with
high risk
for stroke
A new program being
offered by the Huron -Perth
Healthcare Alliance will
soon help people who are at
a high risk for stroke.
The Secondary Prevention
Clinic will provide an
integrated approach to stroke
prevention for patients
within the area, who are at
high risk for stroke.
"It's an exciting program
and it's good that it was
initiated for Huron -Perth,"
said Strugnell.
With the Stroke Strategy
Program. the Alliance is
hoping to get patients who
present some stroke
symptoms in to see a doctor
within 24 to 48 hours, put
them on appropriate
medication and have
diagnostic tests ordered.
Through the provincial
government program. stroke
clinics were funded
throughout Southwestern
Ontario.
In Huron -Perth, Maureen
Leyser will begin seeing
patients and working with
patients referred to her from
the Stratford hospital's
emergency room.
Strugnell said ,that the
program will begin "very
quickly" within emergency
rooms in all four Alliance
hospitals.
By Jason Middleton
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, March 23. 2005-5
r HOLY WEEK MASS SCHEDUL
•�' AT LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCHES
Holy Thursday, March 24
7:00 p.m. St. James, Seaforth
7:00 p.m. St. Joseph's, Clinton
Followed by Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament until 10:00 p.m.
Good Friday, March 25
11:00 a.m. St. Joseph's, Clinton
3:00 p.m. St. James, Seaforth
3:00 p.m. St. Columban, St. Columban
Easter Vigil, March 26
8:00 p.m. St. James, Seaforth
EASTER SUNDAY, MARCH 27
9:00 a.m. St. Joseph's, Clinton
9:00 a.m. St. Columban, St. Columban
11:00 a.m. St. James, Seaforth
A Happy
and Blessed
Easter to All!
r riMkr/A
Church
Services
BEREAN COVENANT
CHURCH
A BRANCH OF
GRACE TRINITY
COMMUNITY CHURCH
Orange Hall, Seaforth
527-2682
4:0o pm Worship Service
Pastoral Team:
Pastor Bob Penhearow
Pastor Ron Matthews
Pastor Ro al Hamel
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit
Jarvis St. Seaforth
Fr. Michael Atkins Parish Office 527-1522
Good Friday, March 25
Worship at 12 noon
Easter Day, Sunday, March 27
Worship at 9:30 a.m.
Mon. Mar. 28 - Prayer Group/ Growers
Group - 7 p.m.
Tues. March 29 - 150th Anniversary
Committee - 7 p.m.
Bethel Bible Church
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth
527-0982
Sunday Worship Hour 11 am
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
NORTHSIDE
UNITED CHURCH
54 Goderich St. W.
Sun., March 20, 2005
Sunday School
Adult & Youth 9:30 a.m.
Junior 11:00 a.m.
Worship 11 a.m.
Rev. John Gould
Sermon: The Race to the Empty Tomb
Nursery Provided
You are invited
to attend these
area churches
Catholic Church
St. James RC Church
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
527-0142
Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm
Sun. 11:00 am
St. Columban RC Church
Saturday Mass at 7:30 pm
Father Lance Magdziak
Egmondville
United Church
Fri., Mar. 25 - 11a.m.
Good Friday Service
Sun., March 27 -.7:30 a.m.
Sun Rise Service at Bill & Gall Prices
11 a.m. Easter Communion Service
Steve Hildebrand - Lay Pastoral
Minister in Training
First Presbyterian
Church
59 Goderich St. W., Seaforth
Rev. Henry Huberts
Fri. March 25
Good Friday Service 10:30 a.m.
Hot Cross Buns & Refreshments
Sun. March 27
Easter Sunday Service 11:15 am
Sunda School & Nurs
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