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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1983-10-05, Page 54 By Jack Riddell MPP The preservation of On- tario's agricultural land has long been a matter of concern to the Ontario Liberal Party. In the light of the Ministry of Agriculture's recent sup- port for the urban develop- ment of 4,000 acres of top quality foodland in the City of Brampton, the Provincial Government's commitment to the preservation of agricultural land is a farce and a sham, says Liberal Leader David Peterson. On September 19, Bramp- ton City Council considered a staff report on changes to the proposed Brampton Official Plan. Council voted to designate agricultural land as "rural" rather than "agricultural" which would have more accurately reflected the predominant land use and intended future use. Rural, as a classification, is seen as nothing more than a holding category until the rural land is ready for development. Brampton Council also voted in favour of the urbanization of the 4,000 acre parcel of land which Ronto/Sandringham propos- ed to develop. No phasing criteria are to be established and the defini- tion of the land to be developed has been left so general that any or all of the land can be developed at any time. The City's Official Plan 09etch'3 ogoiting3 Must preserve farmland must now be approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Associa- tion of People Evaluating Agricultural Land - who are opposing the urbanization - have asked that the Plan be referred to the Ontario Municipal Board for hearings. Virtually the only steps which the Provincial Govern- ment has taken to preserve agricultural land are ineffec- tive foodland guidelines which are not binding upon municipalities. It thus re- mains economically more at- tractive for municipalities. It thus remains economically more attractive for municipalities to approve in- dustrial development over agricultural land preservation. A recent major Federal Government study reported the alarming disappearance of millions of acres of prime farmland in Ontario, especial- ly in the urban shadow. This controversial Bramp- ton situation is a classic ex- ample of the continued destruction of valuable farmland. Brampton was well endowed with agricultural land, containing some 81.5 percent Class 1 land. Only one-half of this small amount is in Southern On- tario. Between 1971 and 1982, Brampton lost some 16,000 acres of prime agricultural land and the trend continues. Brampton only has some 27,000 acres of farmland remaining. Last year, Liberals ques- tioned the Minister of Agriculture and Food about the lack of comment by his Ministry on the application of Foodland Guidelines to the Brampton Official Plan which included the urbanization of Please Be Generous... When the Exeter Lions and Lioness Stage Their Annuu: DOOR-TO-DOOR CANVASS FOR THE Canadian Institute For The Blind Thursday, Oct. 13 The CNIB offers adjustment to blindness Junes, mobility and orientation training, rehabilitation programmes, library and a variety of support ser- vices for visually impaired blind people. CNIB is involved in the well-being of over 34,000 blind and visually impaired min, women and children in Canada. In Exeter seven visually hon. dicapped people ors being assisted. The CNIB would like to remind you that: With your help, a future can be bright, even without sight. P.S. At the same time, canvassers will pick up any eye glasses you may have over 7,000 acres of agricultural land and which had been circulated to his Ministry for comments in Oc- tober 1980. After three years of stony silence, the Ministry finally decided that the best way to preserve 4,000 acres of agricultural land, whose need for development has not been demonstrated, is to include it in the urban boundary and allow it to be phased in. The definition and time frame for the phasing was intentionally left vague. Surely a more logical means of preserving farmland is to keep it out of the urban limit. Especially in view of the fact that the only justification for the inclusion of the land for urbanization which had been excluded In the Draft Official Plan was as the result of a submission to Brampton Council by R.K. Webb, the former law partner of Premier Davis, on behalf of the Ronto/Sandringham Development Group. As a result of the inclusion of the lands, the original Official Plan population projection was revised upward from Send two get well cards Granton seniors Ry MRS. [. SUMMERS Granton The Happy Gang met in the United Church basement on Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Clayton Langford presided and welcomed everyone back after the holidays. During the business period it was decided to invite Ivan (Pat) Perry of London, a retired real estate agent to come and speak to the members. This gentleman of- fers his services free to senior citizens groups. Mrs. Langford conducted a contest on general knowledge. The remainder of the after- noon was spent in a friendly game of cards. Two get well cards were signed by all present for two members who were absent because of sickness. They were Inez McRobert and Olive Gowan. Three members with bir- thdays were remembered with greetings, Edith Westman, Amelia Jameson and Bruce Pierce. Church news At the Granton United Church the Rev. Bruce Pierce conducted the worship on Sunday. Continuing with the third of his series on the "Whole Armor of God" the Minister based his message on the Breastplate of Righteousness. This piece of armor is hot, heavy and un- comfortable, but we have to wear it to protect us from our enemies said the minister. It does not say in the Bible that we will be spared from tribulations and tragedies, but if we wear the Breastplate of Righteousness and Faith, we will have the protection of God. Flowers were placed in the AT CENOTAPH — Bob Clark handles the bugle chores during a Legion Zone convention service at the Exeter cenotaph, Sunday afternoon. T -A photo. Mark anniversary at Kirkton church By MRS. HAROLD DAVIS Kirkton Mr. Burns Blackler and Kirk Blackler attended the In- ternational Ploughing Match at Richmond last week. Miss Evelyn Walkom of Kitchener spent a few days last week with Ethel Copeland. St. Paul's Anglican Church celebrated their Harvest Daily Interest Chequmg Account' VI lV 1A AND GREY TRUST Since 1844 Exeter: 425 Main St. 235-0530 Thanksgiving Service on Sun- day morning at 11 a.m. with the Rector Rev. Peter Der- rick in charge. Lessons were read by the Rector and Mrs. Garth Blackler. The choir rendered an anthem. Among those attending the service and out of town dinner guests in the village were: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dobson, Mrs. Wm. J. Blackler, Mr and Mrs. Leslie Fairbairn of Lon- don, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Aitken and Lindsay, Miss Jayne Blackler and Mr. Dave Mullen of St. Marys, Mrs. Lloyd Hern of Exeter, Mrs. Allan Elston of Centralia, Mrs. Clare Sisson of Strathroy, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Robinson, and Jack Switzer of RR 1 St. Marys, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Blackler of Sebringville. The family of Mrs. Verda Morrison held an 80th birth- day celebration for their mother on Sunday afternoon at Kirkton United Church. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ur- quhart visited Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Bert Myers of Belmont. 'I 260,000 to 344,000. As Liberal Leader David Peterson has pointed out, the Minister of Agriculture "is abrogating his responsibllity when 4,000 acres of the best foodland is casually sacrific- ed to urban sprawl... He con- dones the continued loss of the means with which to feed ourselves." If the Davis Government is serious about the preserva- tion of farmland in Ontario, it can start by preventing the further loss "f prime agricultural land in the Premier's home riding. resume church from the funeral of the Late Mrs. Carmen (Pearl) Dann in loving memory by her family. The service was withdrawn at St. Thomas Anglican Church, in order that the 'members could join in the celebration of the anniver- sary of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Kirkton. I apologize for my error last week when I reported that it was the anniversary of St. Paul's instead of St. Patrick's Church, Saintsbury. Explorer news On Monday September 26 the Granton Explorers met at the Church. We sang the Pur- pose, Motto and a hymn. We sent a letter to Mrs. Gowan who is in the hospital. The col- lection was $3.50. We made small cards for the bazaar, and closed the meeting at 8:30 with Taps. - Secretary - Becky Bryan. Personals Sincere sympathy is ex- tended to the family of the late Frank Beaucage, who passed away suddenly at his home on Friday. A speedy recovery is wish- ed for Mrs. Floyd Dykes who is a patient in St. Marys Memorial Hospital. Says beef men require Mel p Ontario could lose much of its beef industry unless farmers receive an emergen- cy assistance program from the province immediately, Liberal agriculture critic Jack Riddell (Huron - Middlesex) predicted Monday. "With livestock prices low and crop prices and other in- put costs high, many of our farmers may be left to harvest nothing more than bankruptcies this fall," Rid- dell said in an open letter to Agriculture Minister Dennis Timbrell. Things have never been worse for the majority of On- tario's beef producers, he said. Cattle prices have declined from $83 a hundreweight last spring to a little more than $70 currently, he said, and are averaging $2 a hun- dredweight less than in 1982. The ministry's economic forecast is for low prices to continue unitl at least mid -1984. "Without some emergency financial assistance from your government, part of the beef industry will quickly be lost to Ontario and shift to other provinces." Riddell said the Quebec beef stabilization program of- fers $191.60 a cow. Quebec farmers can afford, with the help of their government, to buy cattle here and remove them from Ontario production. In Saskatchewan, he said, beef producers received $2.6 million in stabilization payments in April, May and June. AMI l SS [AV[STRO U G H „°"""".SIDING Ask About Our SAVINGS • Stelco Shutters • Aluminum Storm Doors i Windows • Aluminum Awnings • The energy window roll shutters system • Renovations General Construction FREE, ESTIMATES JIM BEAKER CONSTRUCTION DSS 3WOOD26 WINS FAIR DRAW — Mary McGregor of Exeter was the winner of $100 worth of groceries in a draw spon- sored by Zehr's with all proceeds going to the Exeter precision figure skating team. 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