HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2017-02-08, Page 7Wednesday. February 8, 2017 • Huron Expositor 7
Literacy characters come to life!
Galen Simmons Posbneda Nehrork
For Family Literacy Day last Friday, Jan. 27, students at St. Columban School were invited to dress as their favourite literary character. Pictured are just 10 of the many students who opted to do
so. In the back row, from left, are Asha Pereira, Brayden Follett, Jadyn O'Rourke and Rylee Kipfer. In the front row, from left, are Tyler Scherbarth, Allison Bleck, Ella Brodhagen, Brooklyn Cronin,
Samantha Roobroeck and Giovanni Hewitt.
Farming: Growers, processors keep sparring
Hank Daniszewski
Postmedia Network
There was a brief truce Tuesday at an
annual meeting of Ontario's vegetable
growers and the companies that pro-
cess their harvests.
But it's clear the power struggle over
how prices are set in the industry
continues.
In back-to-back speeches at the London
meeting, Francis Dobbelaar, chairperson of
the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers'
Association, said the farmer -led agency
should continue to negotiate prices on
behalf of its members.
He accused processors of sowing
"grower unrest" in a year-long cam-
paign to get the right to negotiate con-
tracts with individual growers.
"It will not promote industry growth.
It will destabilize the industry as price
transparency disappears and confi-
dence erodes," he said.
But Karl Evans, president of the
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Processors'
Association, said companies that buy the
vegetables continue to struggle because
of rising electricity rates, a smaller Cana-
dian market and fluctuations in the value
of the Canadian dollar.
The industry is facing new problems
this year because of the costs associ-
ated with Ontario's new cap -and -trade
system and the threat of new tariffs with
the rise of "Trumpism" in the United
States, he said.
The processors cancelled some
tomato orders last year and Evans held
out the threat of more cuts.
"The current uncertainty creates dif-
ficult choices for making long-term
capital and strategic choices for proces-
sors," he said.
Jim Dickmeyer, another speaker at
the convention, confirmed the
upheaval that could face agriculture
and other sectors because of the trade
war threatened by new U.S. president
Donald Trump.
"I can guarantee one certainty, every-
thing is uncertain," said Dickmeyer, the
former head of the U.S. consulate in
Toronto.
During the past year, processors have
been pushing for an end to the collec-
tive bargaining powers of the London-
based Ontario Processing Vegetable
Growers' Association.
The processors' association has
accused the growers' association of bad
faith bargaining and operating as a
cartel.
Processors had the backing of the
Ontario Farrn Products' Marketing
Commission, the provincial agency that
oversees the province's agricultural
marketing boards.
Last year, the commission
announced plans to remove the collec-
tive bargaining powers of the board in
favour of a free market system.
In August, Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal
intervened and ordered more consultation
before any regulations were changed.
In an interview, Dobbelaar said it's
an issue that ultimately will have to be
decided by the provincial government.
Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
The 141st Annual Meeting and Special General Meeting of the Osborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company will be held
at the Kirkton-Woodham Community (entre at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 20, 2017 for the presentation of the Annual
Report, to elect Directors, to appoint auditors and authorize the directors to fix the auditors' remuneration, and to consider and
if thought fit, to adopt, with such amendments as may be made at the meeting, amendments to the General By-laws of the
Company that were passed by the Board of Directors at their meeting on December 13th, 2016. A summary of the amendments
to the General By-laws follows. A full copy of the General By-laws as amended is available for review by all members at the
Company office during regular business hours, or will be provided upon request.
Nominations will be received for the election of two Directors for a three year term. The Directors whose term of office expires
are Michael O'Shea and Tom Feeney both of whom are eligible to and will stand for re-election. Article 22 of the Corporation's
General By-laws provides: Any person wishing to seek election or re-election as a Director must file his/her intention to stand
for election in writing with the Secretary of the Corporation in person at least thirty days in advance of the Annual and Special
General Meeting.
The 2016 Financial Statements for Usborne & Hibbert Mutual will be posted to the company's website at
www.usborneandhibbert.ca . Copies will be available at the Company office, 507 Main Street South, Exeter, Ontario or may be
obtained by sending a written notice to the Company office at least 14 days before the Meeting.
Summary of Amendments made to By-law 2011-1 by By-law 2017-1
(The numeric references herein correspond with the section numbers of the By-laws)
13 50% of members required to be present in person for quorum for meeting to consider demutualization.
14 Chair of Board to be chairperson for members and directors meetings.
17 Members of the Corporation in good standing are entitled to one vote at members' meetings.
22(c) Nominating Committee established, to recruit potential candidates for election to the board. Any person
seeking election, including those recruited by the Committee, to file notice 30 days before the election.
27(b) A Director may be removed from office by special resolution of the members.
34. Directors shall be paid remuneration as set by the Board from time to time and may be provided with benefits
provided to company employees.
37 Minutes of directors and committee meetings to be recorded by authorized person.
45 Persons authorized by the Board may execute documents on behalf of the company.
46 Agents and other producers to be appointed by the board or persons authorized by the board. Board to fix their
remuneration and set policies affecting them.
53 Quarterly reports on transactions involving company investments to be given to the board.
57 Specific provisions dealing with underwritingduties of the manager deleted.
Jack Hodgert Shelagh Cleary BA, FLIP
Chair President & CEO