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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-04-20, Page 6• 6 - THE HURON EXPOSITOR. April 20, 2005 An Event for Moms & Daughters 1 r Fighting Foods ppysicail)r Active • Saturday May 7 Goderich District Collegiate RSVP by April 27 482-3418 or 1-877-837-8143 SEAFORTH 527-0120 EXETER 235-2121 www.teamvincent.com This is Volunteer Week April 17th to April 24th On behalf of the Seaforth Hospital Auxiliary Executive We wish to THANK all of the volunteers that work the gift shop and who participate on the fundraising projects Be proud you are a volunteer! You're in Good Company! Walk Proud! Federal Ag Minister launches NM assistance program for farmers Mitchell closes agriculture roundtable discussion to media By Cheryl Heath Clinton News -Record Federal Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell spent the day with farmers and only moments with reporters Saturday during a series of pit -stops designed, in part, to launch a $57.5 - million program that will assist farmers with the price of adhering to stringent new environmental regulations in the wake of the Walkerton water disaster. Mitchell, who made the .official announcement in Mildmay before arriving at Brussels for a short scrum with media and then a closed door roundtable discussion with both the federations of agriculture from Huron and Bruce Counties, fielded fewer than 10 questions from reporters who were corralled in a room separate from the room for 30 invited only guests. Though the federal Liberal Party is currently mired in scandal due to allegations being made in the ongoing Gomery Inquiry into the so- called Sponsorship Scandal, Mitchell says Saturday's in - pi A SALUTE TO Ii' Hospital Volunteers 1-IURON PERTH HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL ST. MARYS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL STRATFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL (Volunteers Take Time to Care) National Volunteer Week is celebrated April 17 - 23, 2005 This is the time of year we acknowledge the enormous contribution by the dedicated volunteers who give their time and efforts to assist in the delivery of programs and services that significantly enrich the culture of our hospitals and the communities we serve. We wish to recognize and express gratitude to all the volunteers who make a difference to our patients, staff, and our local health care system - Hospital Volunteers, Hospital Board Members, Local Advisory Committee Members, Auxiliary Members and Foundation Board Members. To each and every one of you, we extend our sincere appreciation. Ron Bolton Board Chair Andrew Williams Chief Executive Officer Cheryl Heath photo Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle and Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell field questions from the media'during a brief scrum in camera round -table discussions are a result of the government's desire to keep its talks with farmers separate from its presentations to the media. The closed -door session, he maintains, is not closed to the media for fear of more negative publicity for the Liberal party. "I expect to hear a range of opinions," he says of the pending meeting. "I think it's essential to meet with individuals and hear issues." Mitchell also took time out to reject claims the recently unveiled $1 billion Farm Income Payment Program amounts to little more than advance payment on the controversial Canadian Agriculture Income Stabilization (CAIS) program. He says there is no chance that farmers who acquire grant money will ever have to pay it back. "It's not part of the CAIS program," says Mitchell, adding the money is meant Brussels on Saturday afternoon. to assist with farm income. He notes the government is confident the United States border will soon reopen to Canadian beef given that a Montana judge's temporary injunction is currently under appeal. Mitchell also vows supply - management will not be an issue on the bargaining table during ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) talks designed to deal with issues like the trade injury Canadian farmers are suffering at the hands of undercut imports. The minister ended that line of questioning by noting, "I rarely deal with hypotheticals." Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle, who escorted Mitchell throughout the day, participated in the round- table discussion as well as a Liberal Party -organized dinner in Belmore, which coincided with the Huron County Beef Producers' annual appreciation dinner held in Brussels. The $57 million in grant money is being delivered via an agreement with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture through the Canada -Ontario Environmental Farm Plan Program (EFP) and Canada - Ontario Farm Stewardship Program (COFSP). Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell was also on hand for that presentation in Mildmay where she noted, "Environmental farm planning is very important to the agriculture industry. Our partnership with producers is key to enhancing the health of Ontarians and their environment. The province will continue to provide technical expertise and ' will supplement the federal cost - share for producers who meet the eligibility requirements through the Nutrient Management Financial Assistance Program (NMFAP)." Hospital foundation to join CKNX radiothon this fall By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Supporters of Seaforth Community Hospital will be able to call in their donations to the radio when the local Notice to Farmers On March` Program, -vii ral government announced the Farm Income Payment i1'deliver $1 billion in assistance to Canadian farmers. The prograrn • udes two components: A general payment of *841.5 million. Producers of all commodities, with the exception of supply managed commodities, are eligible for this payment. A direct payment of $155 million to producers of cattle and other eligible ruminants including bison, elk, deer, goats and sheep. If you received a payment under the Transitional Industry Support Program (TISP) in 2004, you do not need to apply. Payments will be sent to you automatically. If you did not receive a payment under the TISP program in 2004, you can apply now. Applications are now available on the Farm Income Payment Web site at www.agr.gc.ca/flp or by calling toll free at 1-866-367-8506. The deadline to apply is July 31, 2005. I*. Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri -Food Canada Agroaimentaire Canada • Canada hospital foundation joins the CKNX Health Care Heroes Million Dollar Radiothon this fall for the first time. SCH Foundation chair Ron Lavoie says the foundation decided to become the 12th Local hospital involved in the radio campaign after some inquiries from local people about why Seaforth's hospital wasn't involved during the past three years. "We're a small community and we wondered if this initiative might take away from our other initiatives but after looking at it, we decided it was appropriate to have some fun and raise some money with the radiothon," he says. T h e foundation has created a subcommittee to organize the refreshments is being planned in Seaforth for the radiothon since donors can either phone in their donations or travel to the local centre with donations. The Seaforth site of the function is still to be determined. Donors are asked to specify which hospital of the 12 involved they want to contribute towards. "We're expecting the Seaforth to go towards some major capital money Quoted for `We're going to need lots of volunteers to man the phones at the radio station and to run the function in Seaforth,' ll' * dMionsvbcowm to clIndr Sbeillt Morton. daylong event on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sheila Morton is chairing it. "We envision having a tent with a barbecue," says Lavoie. "And, we're going to need lots of volunteers to man the phones at the radio station and to run the function in Seaforth," says Morton. Six to eight volunteers will be needed to man the phones in Winghah and about a dozen will be needed to work at the function in Seaforth A - festive day with entertainment and equipment at the hospital," says Morton. "It's up to us to promote it in town," says Lavoie. T h e radiothon, which involves hospitals in Clinton, Goderich, Durham, Mount Forest, Wingham, Listowel, Chesley, Kincardine, Hanover, Palmerston and Walkerton, has raised over $1 million during the past three years. The local subcommittee organizing the radiothon in Seaforth includes Sheila Morton, Alf Ross, Dick Burgess, Sherr! McCall and Joan Chesney. Anyone interested in volunteering can call one of the subcommittee members or the Seaforth Medical Centre at 527-1589. 4