HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-05-06, Page 4Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - Page 3
Ontario Minister of Agriculture makes .important stop in Lucknow
BY GAM REID
Sentinel Staff
The Minister of
Agriculture, Food
and Rural Affairs
for Ontario, Leona
Dombrowsky, was
in Lucknow on
April 30 to talk with
farmers and farm
groups from the
Bruce county area.
She was accompa-
nied by Huron-
Bruce MPP • Carol
Mitchell who was.
-- also there to put on
a Liberal fund-rais-
urg event.
Some of the key
issues that were
being . addressed at
the meeting were
the impact of the
Harmonize d Sales
Tax (HST) on fann-
ers and .the misin-
formation about the
I1N1 human swine
flu on the pork pro-
ducing industry.
Dombrowsky
was in support of
the HST as she
believes that it will
bring many positive
financial gains to
farmers in the area
and all over
Ontario.
"As far as farm-
ers go, this is good
news. It will reduce
their cost of busi-
ness because they
will only be doing
one tax return
instead of two,"
said Dombrowsky.
"It will also mean
that a number of
items they purchase
for their farm busi-
ness will now be
exempted.'.'
She went on to
say that these items
could range from
farm vehicles, com-
puter equipment,
office equipment,
mainly just every-
thing that goes into
running a farm.
Along with the
equipment neces-
sary to run a farm
business,
Dombrowsky also.
said the HST would
also include the
purchase of agricul-
tural land. She
addressed that it
wouldn't be a prob-
lem to farmers who
would ultimately
have to pay ` more
for the .land with the
additional sales tax.
' "I don't see why
it will be a problem,
we are . g about
t��
a single sales tax, so
at the present tripe
when fanners pur-
chase land or sell
land to another
farmer there is GST
applied," said
Dombrowsky.
"When that GST is
applied it will be
then rebated 100
per cent."
She went on to
say that the total
price of the land
will not change
from current land
prices because of
the GST rebate.
One key ; pont
she made about
land transfer is that
families would be.
exempt from hav-
ing to pay sales tax.
"When farms are
transferred within
families the Ontario
government doesn't
charge land transfer
taxes, said
Dombrowsky.
However, there
were limitations
how immediate the
family can be.
The H1N1
human swine flu
was also a topic of
discussion and
Dombrowsky want-
ed to assure all of
the farmers who
attended that the
matter was being
taken care of.
"From the
Province of
Ontario's perspec-
tive this is a human
health issue and so
the Provincial
Minister of Health
has the lead on this
topic," said
Dombrowsky.
"There is a lack of
understanding
about the nature of
H1N1. It's called
swine flu, but peo-
ple don't contract
this illness from
eating pork."
Great Gifts for Mom
* Hand -tied Bouquets * Plants
* Florai Arrangements * Gifts and Home Accents
1
1
Huge Sidewalk
11 on the street
1 Savings of up to
1
Tons of home accents & gifts
NO GIFT WRAPPING AVAILABLE ON SALE ITEMS
- - - -
i.
1t
- -. - - - - - -- - - - - - - 4
Inspiring Fiords Home Accents O
589 Campbell St. Lucknow •519.528.3312
1.888.263.9019
:��eryt�ire
you need -for LIVING (ft, for GIVING.
no Minister. of Agriculture, food end, iturolAffoirs
O:.MMUNITY,
IF YOU CARE, YOU'LL BE THERE!
Acommunity forum sponsored by your local hospitals
Lucknow & Dlstrkt Recreation Departnr
REGISTILATION:::I:.'
FOR SUMMER DAY DAMP & SWIMMING LESSONS
Saturday, May 9 - 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13 - 6 to 8 p.m.
MuItIpurpoee Noon at the Sports Complex
Pool Opening - Saturday, June 13 1. to 4 p.m.— Free Swimming
Swimming Lessons - •Session # 1 June 15.W 26.
•Session # 2 June 29 to July 10 Session # 3 -August 3 to 14
Supervisors will be there to answer your questions, or call the Recreation
Office at 519-528-3002