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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-04-26, Page 36Page 36 Times -Advocate, April 26, 1989 Check -off fee reduced to 5% TORONTO - The (neck -off fee for the Livestock Financial Protec- tion Fund has been reduced to five cents per head, and buyer contribu- tions have been eliminated, Onta-" rio Minister of Agriculture and Food Jack Riddell announced re- cently. "This additional reduction in fees, which went into effect April 4, is the result of a continuing ef- fort by the industry to streamline operations and still provide reason- able, low-cost protection to pro- ducers," Riddell said. When the fund was established in 1982, both buyers and sellers con- tributed. Fees have been slashed from an original level of 20 cents for each party involved in the transaction, to 10 cents when the fund reached $2 million in 1984, down to the five cents per head an- nounced. The Ontario Beef Cattle Finan- cial Protection Program created the fund, designed to compensate sell- ers in case of non-payment by a li- censed dealer. The fund is esta- blished through deductions onisales of slaughter cattle or cattle and calves that require further feeding. At the end of the 1989 fiscal year, there was more than $4 million in the fund. The Financial Protection Fund Board, which administers the fund, investigates and adjudicates claims and has approved 116 claims, • worth over $1.5 million, since the "'Wards at CCAT - At a recent presentation at.Centralia College, those in the above picture program• started. received• Student Activities Council plaques. Back, left, Todd Jenken and Mark Penhale. Front, Franc- "These payments indicate the im- es Croce, John Helliken, Karen Clarke and Ken Ovington. Missing was Sylvia Kruhl. portance of this self-financing pro- gram to Ontario producers," Rid- dell said. The board has also recovered nearly $580,000 from defaulting dealers since the program began. The Financial Protection Fund Board is made up of representative's from the Ontario Cattlemen's As- sociation, Canadian Meat Packers Council, Ontario Livestock Auc- tion Market Association, the' To- ronto Livestock Exchange and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. By law, all beef cattle buyers are required to have a licence. License holders must demonstrate financial responsibility and pay promptly for cattle purchases. Approximate- ly 485 dealers are licensed yearly. Producers should sell only to li- censed dealers and cash cheques within five banking days of receiv- ing them. If there is any doubt about whether a dealer is licensed or, if payment has not been received, sellers are advised to call the Live- stock Commissioner, collect, at (416) 326-3554. CCAT Hockey awards - Frank Funston at the lett and Rob Funston at the right present the most im- proved player award to Peter Gubbels and the top rookie plaque to Joe Kaak for their efforts in the 1988-89 hockey season at Centralia College. •Best CCAT defenceman - Coaches Frank Funston at the left and Rob Funston at the right present plaques to Jamie Convey and Warren Jutzi as the best defencemen during the 1988-89 hockey. season at Centralia College. Advertising 1) On page 4 of our lumber flyer, exterior lattice should be as follows: 1 x 8-- $3.39 ea. 2 x 8 - $5.49 ea. 4 x 8 - $10.79 ea. 2) On page 3, SM insulation is: 2' x 8' x 1" - $6.99 ea. 3) Store Hours: Mon, to Fri. 7:30 - 5:30 Sat. 8:00 - 4:30 We apologize for any inconvenience Exeter Aliso Craig 'SO 233.2081 293-3282 Jack's Jottings Jack Riddell MPP Huron s From Queen's Park Minister invites public participation in discussion over future of health care Ontario has achieved international recognition for delivery of one of the best health care systems in the world. It is not, however, a to- tally perfect system, nor one isolated from the pressures of the changing and advancing society. A rapid increase in Ontario's seniors population, the need to keep pace with technological advances and escalating costs are placing new demands on health care as it develops to meet future needs. There are two sides to the government's health strategy. To deal with immediate needs - .in highly specialized and often life- threatening areas such as trauma, cancer, emergency, high risk preg- nancy and cardiac surgery, and to equip the system to respond to changing needs and changing times - looking to community based care and focusing on prevention and promotion. To achieve the latter, the government has released a discussion paper that Health Minister Elinor Caplan says will serve as the focus for public participation to determine future directions: Unique in its approach to developing a comprehensive planning strategy, this document, "Deciding the Future of our Health Care", lays out the system' as it is, explores future challenges and high- lights preliminary steps already taken by the Ministry to meet changing needs. * Serving an aging population: approximately ten percent of our population is over 65 and accounts for about 40 percent of health care spending. Costs are high because Canada has the western world's highest in- stitutionalization rate for seniors. The challenge ahead is to provide community-based health services allowing seniors to enjoy the inde- pendence of living in their own homes. * New Technology: advances in computer technology, break- throughs in drug therapies and advanced diagnostic and surgical pro- cedures have revolutionized the medical industry. Every day, the frontiers of the possible are being pushed back with new techniques and new equipment. There is no doubt that these advances save lives. But, at the same time, they raise serious moral and ethical issues that we must deal with. * Cost Pressures: ten years ago, the total budget of the Minis- try of Health was $4 billion; this year the cost of delivering health care services will almost reach S13 billion. Exceeding both the rate of inflation and the rate of population growth, this increase far out- strips Ontario's economic growth. The challenge lies in answering the question 'Can we just spend our ways to better health? Or are there other approaches we should consider?' By taking this discussion to the people of Ontario, the Minister of Health believes we can all achieve the government's goal of continu- ing to develop a system that provides equal access to quality health care services - the best we can afford as close to home as possible. OMAF retailer awards I was proud to present retailer awards to two of our own Huron County stores recently at a ceremony in Toronto. Valu Mart in Exet- er was the recipient of one of twenty-five award certificates which are -awarded annually to stores showing year-round, total store support for Ontario food products. Zehrs in Wingham achieved the distinc- tion of being judged the overall winner, province -wide, for 1988. These awards are highly regarded in the retail trade, and are the Min- istry of Agriculture and Food's way of acknowledging the excellent support they provide to our Foodland Ontario Retail Merchandising Program. Grant to Riding Group Dalta, has recently received a S14,000 annual provincial funding commitment from the Ministry of Community and Social Services to enhance its family violence counselling program at the Huron Perth Centre for Children in Clinton. Plan to reduce phone costs Exeter next in line OMAF, Guelph hosting conference on GATT LONDON - Rob Freeman of Rob Freeman Real Estate, and other area business' men want to reduce the cost of your long distance calls to London, Belmont, Strathroy, Mel- bourne and Dorchester. They have formed an organization called the London Telecommunica- tion Sharing Group, and it offers its members an unlimited number of calls from St. Thomas to any of the previously -named places for under 515.00 per month - $14.95 if you're counting pennies. This seems to be quite a deal, be- cause without the London Telecom- munication Sharing Group it would cost you approximately 34 cents per minute, varying on the area you are calling. The offer began 14st February in Mount Brydges where it was obvi- ously a success, because starting two months ago, it was available to St. Thomas residents. Mr. Freeman describes his service as "a group of people sharing a number of lines to cut the cost!" of your long distance calls. According to Mr.Freeman, the total cost to a member eventual- ly depends on the amount of use a member makes of the service. Fortunately for people who just like to talk on the phone a lot, the London Telecommunication Shar- ing Group is open to private lines as well as business lines. Rob and Carla Freeman hope to have Exeter lines in by May 1, 1989. �.z Announcement Paul Storey W.G. Thompson and Sons Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Paul Storey to the position of Manager at the company's Ailsa Craig branch. Paul comes to the position with 13 years experience in agricul- ture and with the last two of those years at Thompson's In Hen - sell and as assistant manager of Ailsa Craig in 1988. Paul and his wife Barbara, and their children, Donald and Brent, live in the Ex- eter area. Paul is replacing Mr. Neil McAllister who has accepted the Quality Control position at the Hensall branch. • GUELPH - The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the University of Guelph will host a conference for farm and agribusiness leaders Friday, April 28 to review the results of the latest round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations. The day -long conference runs from 9:00 - 5:00 and will be held at the University of Guelph Arbore- tum. The conference will identify the implications of trade policy reform for the agribusiness and farm sec- tors in Ontario and Canada. 4 Speakers include representatives from the Ottawa trade negotiations office, the European communities' delegation and Ottawa's institute for research on public policy. Ministry speakers will discuss the effects of GATT negotiations on Ontario's agrifood sector. Speakers from the universities of Missouri and Guelph will provide an American overview. For further details, call Bob Se- guin, Economics and Policy Co- ordination, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. (416) 326- 3204. CIIffIDA•OMTEIRIO Crop Insurance Production costs are higher than ever before. You should insure that investment. You stand to lose more than you might think from unexpected hail, frost, drought, flood, wind, insect damage and disease. Crop Insurance makes better sense every year. Agent: DONALD WEIGAND Dashwood, Ont Phone 237-3418 Townships of Hay, Stephen, McGillivray Deadline May 1st 'fir Canada g Ontario Ministry of Milis A riculture Agriculture and Food