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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-12-26, Page 4t: Page 4 December 26, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Edi tonal Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK I'm working through Ch and Fourth year of farm tax deferral stresses continued farm struggles For the fourth year, Huron East council has acknowledged the ongoing financial challenges fac- ing the agricultural community by. deferring prop- erty tax payments from local farmers until the fall. Begun in 2004 when grains and cereal prices were at a 25 -year low, the pressure is now on beef and hog farmers who are now being devastated by low prices. One can argue that in one way or another, all of Huron East's economy is dependent on agriculture and while the tax deferral is, in the grand scheme of things, a small gesture, local farmers appreciate that their local council is conscious of their strug- gles. While the tax deferral allows local farmers to keep more than $975,000 in the Huron East econo- my until September, one of the main purposes of the move is to bring the ongoing plight of farmers to the attention of other governments - on the municipal, provincial and federal levers. While Huron East received close to a dozen enquiries about the deferral from other Ontario municipalities, local administration is only aware of two who followed through - Huron East's neigh- bour Morris-Turnberry and Halton Hills_near lbronto. Over the past four years, the province has been persuaded that a risk management program will help to put Ontario farmers on a more level playing field with U.S. farmers. But, the federal government has yet to commit to the long-term programs necessary to keep Canadian farmers viable and able to compete in the global market. Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan has been argu- ing against the tax deferral in Huron East because it seems to him that every year will see at least one sector of the agricultural community in financial difficulty. But, that circumstance seems far Less likely if the - provincial and federal governments do their part to keep our farmers in business and Canadians able to feed ourselves. Susan Hundertmark Your CoMm nity Newspaper since 1860 E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com 0.15) oMecofl MEDIA CanacIN .-! •• `We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." Christmas means different things to different people, but for college and university stu- dents its most meaningful ben- efit is two or three weeks away from our studies. As I mentioned in a column last week, my break this year is almost a month long. I wasn't sure what I would do with myself. Sleeping till noon every day was an enticing option. Wasting my time in front of a televi- sion was another. (My folks now have a satellite dish. At my apartment near St. Catharines, I use rabbit ears.) There are also a few non-academic books I thought I might peruse, as I often do this time of year. Naturally, I rejected all three options. I chose to work. "Hey Dave," I wrote to my publisher. "I've got time to burn this month and will probably be bored. Any chance I could write a few sto- ries for you?" Dave said "yep," and sent me to the Expositor office, where I spent five days get- ting reacquainted with an old friend called "8 a.m." I'd forgotten what he looked like. My benevolent editor Susan, faced with the task of throwing two papers together last week, sent me quickly into action. School officials were interviewed about measures they're taking to provide healthier Ben Forrest options for students. Local farmers told me of their plight. Snowmobilers spoke of their glee. Swim coaches told me of their suc- cess. I became increasingly aware of the fact that I am the biggest loser in Huron County: I was at work, and I was enjoying it. Then a troubling thought occurred to me. Barring some sort of catastrophic event, the semester that begins Jan. 7 will be my last as an undergraduate. I aim to join the Clinton News -Record shortly after as a full-time, full-fledged reporter. It will likely be quite some time before a month off presents itself again. By "some time" I mean "retirement." "Brilliant move, Ben," I thought to myself. "You'll have a degree in a few months, but you're still pretty dumb." Thankfully, last week was considerably less intense than I expected it would be. I was busy but never overwhelmed; productive, but never over -burdened. School is considerably worse, in fact. I'm more relaxed now than I was a month ago. Also in my favour is the fact even newspa- per folks in this area take a bit of time off around Christmas. They toil heavily in the days before and after, but enjoy at least some reprieve. See I, Page 6 Ron dt Dave IEW YA'S PERsPr: /sI Just think Ron...A brand new year. New hopes...new dreams...untold ssibilitiesl SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 36.18 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS; - 34.17 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Fes: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $181.48 postage, G.S.T. exempt U.SA: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $92.56 postage, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occu- pied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, wiH not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the app icable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsoNcited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT 40064683 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 7605 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO Circulation Department P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Con mwiityp Auo o isdbn • the Ontario Community N*meo .n.' O'A e'..ocf fiorr Susan Hundertmark Editor Maxwell Bickford Advertising Rep Bernie Pugh Sha}lene Young Bolen Dianne McGrath Advertising / Office Composing Front office Publisher - Dave Sykes Editorial and Business Offices - 11 Main Street.,Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (5169) 527-2858 . MaSea�forth Ontario, NOK IWO .