Huron Expositor, 2006-03-08, Page 4►.ta t
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Page 4 March 8, 2006 • The Huron
Opinion
Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers limned, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO
Thank for scrutiny
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Editorial
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East week, farmers began a nuns= er "o
grassroots protests designed to draw the urban
public's attention to a crisis that is real. One that,
in fact, may leave untold numbers of ag producers
without the ability to plant crops or feed livestock
or, frankly, keep it together.
Ironically, the advice they've been given by
manyof those in office include juicy bits, like sit
the year out or find another profession, as if a job
that ties one to the land in pocketbook, exper-
tise and spirit •--- Can be shrugged off in favour of
a minimum -wage paying position in the service
sector that would not cover the costs associated
with paying for the upkeep of a farm.
On Monday, provincialAgriculture Minister
Leona Dombrowsky made a much -anticipated
$125 -million farm aid package announcement
with $80 million going to grains and oilseed pro-
ducers. The figure is about $80 cotillion "shy of
what cash-strapped producers were seeking.
When the nation's food suppliers speak up and
note unfair trade practices (like subsidized corn
in the U.S.) and never-ending and always costly
government -imposed regulations (like the
Nutrient Management Act) are leaving them lit-
tle time to feed the country, the government
response is woefully half-baked.
It is consistently surprising to see that the pow-
ers that be still believe produce, fruit and live-
stock just magically appear on grocery store
shelves.
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The Canadian
Taxpayers' Federation
(CTF) recently held the
eighth annual Teddy
Awards ceremony. on
Parliament Hill to honour
those in politics that
exemplify the worst in
government over -spend-
ing.
Former Immigration minister Joe Volpe
received the Federal Award for his lavish din-
ing on taxpayers money, sometimes several
times a day.
Volpe racked up more than $60,000 in travel
and hospitality bills in just a few short
months.
Some of the lavish dining expenses included
treating some friends to a dinner that cost
$507.
Just a few hours later, they ate again at an
Italian restaurant for $80.
The Provincial. Award was given . to
Manitoba, for covering the costs on tummy
tucks, fat -reducing surgeries and payments
on Botox treatments.
These procedures have increased waiting
lists for CT scans and MRI's, services that the
public expects . to be a higher priority than
cosmetic procedures.
The Cities' Award was given to Richmond,
B.C., for spending $460,000 on world travel
for council members, as well as spending on a
speed -skating oval for the
2010 winter Olympics.
The dubious honour for
a lifetime of achievement
was given to former presi-
dent of the Royal Canadian
Mint David Dingwall.
The awards are named
after Ted Weatherill, who
was fired in 1999 for exces-
sive expense claims, while Chairman of the
Canada Labour Relations Board.
The CTF claims to be a non-profit organiza-
tion that fights to keep taxes low and for
greater government accountability.
It's reassuring to know we have a group in
the CTF that keeps an eye on those who
maybe have a tendency, and certainly the
opportunity, to; self indulge, with the taxpay-
ers dollars no less.
It's important that these sortsof wrong=
doings continue to be made public, and that
as many. taxpayers be informed, which is
partly why I wrote this column in the first
place.
To some of these award winners, money
clearly has very little importance, otherwise
they surely would not spend it like it was
their own.
The CTF and these awards are in place to
keep our politicians honest, which we can
probably all agree on is of the utmost impor-
tance if we are to live in a true democracy.
I'm only 10 years
old. It didn't
take very long.
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