HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-03-05, Page 15GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5,1986—PAGE 15
Ri deli promises to uphold interests
of agriculture in free trade talks
Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Jack
Riddell, promised area farmers that he
would protect the province's multi -billion
agriculture and food production industry
when it comes to negotiating freer trade
with the United States in the coming mon-
ths.
Speaking to the Goderich Lions Club's
annual Farmer's Night at the Candlelight
Restaurant Thursday, Riddell said he was
committed, as the minister responsible for
co-ordinating Ontario's position on free
trade, to protecting the rights of Ontario's
farmers and producers in the most impor-
tant trade initiative in Canadian history.
"I'm not suggesting we start building
ramparts. We need trade and the U.S. is
our biggest customer;" he explained.
"However, in Ottawa's quest for free
• trade, I don't want anyone to lose sight of
fair trade, where agriculture and food pro-
duction in Ontario are concerned."
Claiming the province had "a lot at
stake" in the discussions on bilateral trade
arrangements, `Riddell said Ontario. is the
country's major producer adding that, it
puts the province in a poor position
because the industry is made up of many
different elements.
"Ontario produces 200 different
agricultural commodities. No matter what
deals are made, we're not likely to escape
unscathed," he said. "Ontario food pro-
ducers are paid over $5 billion each year
for their products and we export $2 billion
a year in food and agricultural products.
The total industry, including processing,
retailing transportation and so on, means
$15 billion a year to the province's
economy. And that translates into one in
every five jobs."
Because of the importance of
agriculture to the province's economy,
Riddell said he and Premier David Peter-
son are cautious about enhancing access to
American markets. President Ronald
Reagan has asked Congress for permis-
sion to begin trade negotiations with
Canada but Riddell said it would likely be
May before the U.S. is in a position to begin
the process.
The minister and his staff have been
meeting with producers, marketing
boards and food-processing and related in-
dustry representatives to formulate the
province's position on free trade talks With
the Americans.
Producers have different views on the
subject depending on the commodity Rid-
dell said, adding that poultry and dairy
farmers with strict quotas would not
benefit while red meat producers may,
welcome the prospect of free movement of
their goods.
However, Riddell told the group that
American producers are pressuring of-
ficials to impose import taxes to protect
American products and that Canadian sub-
sidies in the industry hurt American
farmers. He said there are about 300 bills
before various federal and state
legislatures designed to protect U.S. in-
dustries from imports.
There appears to be ample evidence nn
4'��� iuir a rn IIV r►Y
The Holmesville I club met on Feb. 24 at
the Holmesville Hall.
After pledges, members took a quiz on the
type of person they are at home. Most of
them were trying to be a V.C.P. (very con-
siderate person).
After that they decided on a name and ati-
tle page for their books. They are the
"Classy Crowd".
Then they split into pairs and made rules
for different times and places (telephone,
privacy). They discussed parties, the pro-
per etiquette for being a host or hostess or a
guest, problems and responses to
invitations. ,
Table Manners, cutlery and what utensils
are . used for what and when were also
discussed.
f -n ir.ttl airsa
LP 1 Ji.aa464aa%.,
The Holmesville I "Classy Crowd" club,
met on Mar. 3 at the Holmesville Hall.
The group discussed a theme for the play
for Achievement Night. Proper etiquette for
eating fruits and spaghetti was then guessed
at by everyone. The guesses were then cor-
rected by the leader, Linda.
Banquet meal etiquette as well as using
the knife and fork properly were discussed.
Have you ever been an MC at a dinner or
banquet, or introduced a speaker? It's not
easy, but members all gave it a try anyway.
Customs and habits in other parts of the
world were also discussed.
Next were some Menu Mystery Match -
Ups. Do you know what Julienne is? It's food
cut in strips the size and shape of mat-
'isticks. Be honest. Did you know that?
Elementary schools look for
equality with secondary schools
BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE
Elementary schools across Ontario need
$300 million to reach equality with secon-
dary schools, says a spokesman fbr the pro-
vincial teachers' federation.
ro-
vincialteachers'federation.
Larry'Langdon of Toronto, vice-president
of the Ontario Public School Teachers'
Federation (OPSTF), when in Stratford
recently, said his group is working to close
the funding gap between secondary and
elementary schools.
On a provincial average, school boards
received $2,300 for each elementary school.
student, from the ministry of education.
However. these school boards receive $3,100
per secondary school student, on average.
Langdon said it will take $300 million to
break that $800 gap. But, the federation isn't
proposing it all be done in one year.
Instead, said Langdon, the teachers'
federation would like to see $100 million a
year added to the•,Ministry of Education's
$4.5 billion budget over the next three years.
This increase would be on top of normal in-
creases.
The OPSTF vice-president says there are
several reasons, most based on the
historical perspective, for the gap in fun-
ding. Traditionally, elementary school
teachers have been less qualified than
secondary school teachers and therefore
received less pay.
"The qualifications are almost equal
now," said Langdon.
Also, because high school buildings are
usually larger, they cost more to operate.
However, he said since the consolidation of
' elementary schools in the rural area, they
too have larger buildings.
, "But bigger does not mean it will cost
more," Said Langdon.
He said another factor for the lower grant
to elementary has been the smaller number
of teachers per student.
"The federation is quite prepared to say to
the ministry and the public at large that the
extra money will be program specific," he—
said.
In other words, ticer$110 million wouldn't
go towards teachers' salaries. He did outline
some areas where tbe money could be spent.
One such area is the purchase of tex-
tbooks. It could also be directed to lowering
class sizes by hiring more teachers,.
Computers equipment purchase is
another possibility for the extra funding. He
said secondary schools are being filled with
computers, while not even all elementary
schools have computers.
'win City
School of
Hairstylin
Waterloo, 'Ont.
*Hairstyling
Barbering
*Ear Piercing
•Make-up
55 Erb St. East
both sides of the border tlafree
either
e trade
is
not the most desired position
country. This has led to talks onl bilateral
traat
de,
there many not be any
trade, let alone a new deal. It may ail de-
pend on what Reagan wants.
Riddell told the audience that regardless
of what happens, his ministry will be
prepared to defend Ontario's position.
The minister also spoke to the group
about the salient farming issues of the day ,
and his ministry's response since the
Liberal government has been in power.
In the past nine months, Riddell said
that , with the help of banking institutions,
his ministry has introduced the Family
Farm Interest Rate Reduction P, for peo-
ple whose debts were high compared to
their , net worth. He sats about 10,000
families in Ontario will have applied for
assistance under the program.
He said the ministry has also set up pro-
grams to help farnfrs restructure their
business or to help those that were forced
to leave the farm. The national stabiliza-
tion program for red meat producers was
established and a task force for long-term
credit needs was established and tougher
laws will protect farmland from develop-
ment.
Riddell told the audience that farmland
would continue to drop in price until it
reached the $500 an acre level. He promis-
ed to continue to keep the farmers' and
producers'.interests in mind when the pro-
vince negotiates its free trade stand.
We II Be There
Residential
Farms
Business
Resort Properties
76 Hamilton Si., Goderich
8866305
i Monday to Friday
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Cstart 1st or more*.
intrQdll ction $
Finally members checked to see if they
remembered the proper way to eat spaghet-
ti and fruit with punch and a dessert of ap-
ples, bananas and honeydew melon.
The next meeting is Mar. 17, same time,
same place.
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