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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-09-17, Page 2Page 2—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAYSEPTEMBER 17, 1986 News and fQutuu:Qs Former agriculture minister is skeptical about 746.6-millionplart Former Liberal Federal Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan gave his views on free trade, marketing boards, re-training of former farmers and other agriculture - related topics during an appearance in Clinton, where he was the featured speaker at the annual meeting of the Huron County chapter of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, on Sept. 11. Whelan expressed skepticism when ask- ed about current Agriculture Minister John Wise's new $46.6 million plan to help brankrupt farmers re -adjust to life in another line of wprk, during a press con- ference held prior to his speech. "I only know what I read in the newspapers or see on television, so I don't know what kind of re-training they have in mind. I know a lot of farmers are leaving agriculture and they're not all in the same age group. Some are 18 to 25, some are bet- ween 30 and 40, some are over 50. How do you retrain them all?" Whelan said. Whelan insisted, as he did when he was in office, that marketing boards are a good solution to many of the problems facing agriculture. "Some agriculture is in a state of chaos, but not all of it. Those who organized themselves and fought for different organizations, are doing better than the unorganized segments of the industry," said Whelan. "With marketing boards, you spend less government money," he said, adding that there is less in -fighting between farmers whose products are regulated under the boards. On free trade with the United States, Whelan said the agriculture industry will have to fight to ensure a fair deal for farmers in any future trade agreements. "Governments do tend to use agriculture as a sacrificial lamb, unless someone is in there fighting like hell against it," he said. Whelan criticized the current govern- ment for "putting people in Agriculture Canada, who know nothing about agriculture," and said that the dollars spent by the government on agricultural research should be increased.. Now out of federal politics, Whelan is us- ing his agricultural knowledge to help combat world-wide hunger. He said he will be leaving soon on a trip that will take him to the Third World nations of Columbian, Panama, El Salvador and Honduras. "There are people starving there, people suffering from malnutrition. Eighteen million people will die from hunger world- wide this year. We know how to overcome all these things, but we're not doing it," Whelan said. Former Federal Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan (left) discussed farming issues with reporters during a press conference in Clinton on Sept. 11m The conference was held prior to Whelan's performance as the featured speaker at the annual meeting of the Huron County chapter of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. With Whelan is OFA representative Tom Perkes. (photo by Patrick Ratfis) KN ECHTEL FOOD MARKET CLINTON Fresh CHICKEN LEGS Part Back Attached Product of the Tropics Golden Yellow BANANAS Heinz - 48 oz. tin TOMATO JUICE COTTAGE ROLLS Assorted Flavours - Knechtel 24 X 280 ml. "Easy Open" tins CASE OF POP Smooth or Crunchy - 1 KG. Jar Knechtel PEANUT BUTTER c rats awarded Jack Riddell, MPP for Huron -Middlesex and Minister of Agriculture and Food, is pleased to announce, along with Minister of Tourism and Recreation John Eakins, a capital grant to the Township of East Williams in the amount of $100,571 for con- struction of a recreation hall in Nairn. Rid- dell stated this is a much needed facility which will serve several small communities and he is delighted that the township will be receiving this assistance with the building. In addition, as part of a province -wide package of $4,999,998 made availab� through the Capital Conservation grant pr gram, the Tourism and Recreation Ministry has announced the following grants to the riding ,of Huron -Middlesex. Goderich Township: $4,333 to install air conditioning in the main auditorium of the Goderich Township Community Centre. Clinton: $8,804 to replace the arena roof, front doors, and community hall flooring. Huron County: $3,214 for the Day Centre, to improve access to the facility for the disabled. Hensall: $10,300 for major renovations to the Pavilion which is used in summer for family and sporting events. FeeiiYings mixed Harry Pelissero, president of the Ontarip:, Federation of Agriculture, gave the Cana- dian Rural Transition Program (CRTP) a mixed review. The creation of the CRTP was, .announced. recently by federal agriculture ministeltjohn Wise. s� 'P61109e%` sard'a program that gives farmers leaving agriculture access to tran- sition services - long available to Canadians in other industries - is a positive step. In fact, Pelissero said, the need for transition assistance for farmers was highlighted in the Grey -Bruce Pilot Project (1984-85) in which the OFA participated. The same pilot project.recommended the creation of third - party debt review boards which have recently been legislated by the federal government. However, he said, just because these two programs - rural transition and debt review boards - have been announced does not mean that the moratorium on F.C.C. foreclosure actions should be lifted automatically. "While the review boards may be technically in place, they are not functional- ly operational yet. In Ontario, for example, only four out of the 10 board members have been named, and procedures still have to be ironed out. "I would not want to see the moratorium get lifted, and have a flood of farmers apply for debt review before the boards are ready. That could easily bog down the whole pro- cess," said Pelissero. The OFA chief said serious consideration should be given to how and when the moratorium would be lifted, recomrmending either a phase by phase approach, or the an- nouncement of a future - not an immediate• effectivity date. Directors elected Fresh Baked - Your choice Sesame, Onion NOW ON SALE! THIS WEEK'S FEATURE ITEM 24% FULL LEAD CRYSTAL dozen EACH With Each S5 Oh Purchase Regular Retail S3.99 Matching Accessories Also Available. Ser Store Display For Complete Details. STORE !MN Tues., Wedgy, Set 8.40 am r 6 ply HOURS: Thurs. & Fri 810 arsp 50A DISCOUNT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS EVEN? WEDNESDAY • from page 1 he said, commenting that consumers tend to put more of the blame for food prices on retailers and middle -men, than they do on farmers. Farmers have to stick together and work for the changes they wish to see take pIace in agriculture, Klopp said. "Please don't lose faith. We can't just sit back and hope that the problems go away." The federation passed three resolutions, which will be forwarded to the provincial OFA level, for consideration there. The first was a recommendation to in- crease consumer awareness of the farmers' relatively low profit margin on food products by pressuring manufac- turers to include such information on their in labelling. The second resolved the OFA should lob11111. - by the government to set up a watchdog agency to force companies which sell pro- ducts needed for agriculture to justify their prices. The third resolved the OFA should hold their annual convention on a weekend, in order to allow part-time farmers, who also hold jobs off the farm to participate. WEEKLY WEATHER 19SEPT.9 21 LO 25 18 10 10 14 22 17 20 6 12 13 19 7 10 17 3 2 18 1 15 14 10 2 19 3 183 mm mm Rain