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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1976-11-04, Page 34PAGE 16A-GrODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976 . Newman reintroduces bilk ....... (continued from page 14A) States had announced a global import quota, but there still is no meat import law. This ' government , is also pressing W, a wide variety of reforms in agricultural trade and tariff policies. - But we haveno power to' remedy ' these inequities on our own, and that is one fundamental reason that stabilization has to be truly national in scope." "We face similar problems in exporting food products. --governments. The O.F.A: -We have to be sure our price support levels don't conflict with international agreements and tiring retaliation against our products by countries that buy our products. "We . must also, avoid the, risk — the very genuine risk — of ,pitting province against province if several or .all of them should establish in- dependent varieties of farm income stabilization. The other provinces are aware of the dangers of .destructive competition and price wars. They are in general' agreement with out stand that the ideal plan would be a nation-wide one that covers all commodities and en- courages an efficient Canadian agriculture which would be competitive in the world's market places." ' "Bill 96 was therefore designed to dovetail with the existing Federal - Plan . to avoid these dangers: At the same• time, no further ob- stacles were •placed . in the way of extendingand im- proving the federal program." "To 'recapitulate very briefly, Bill 96 •would' have established a Crown Com- mission to set floor prices at the same level as the Federal Plan. In emergencies the base level of support could be • increased above 90 per cent of the five-year average., of market prices,. but only on a temporary basis," "It would have excluded commodities already' named or designated in Ottawa's Bill • C-50. They wouldn't need double protection. It would also have excluded com- modities already regulated by Ontario Marketing Boards that set prices and also allocate' production quotas in line withmarket demands. Dairy products, poultry and . eggs fall in this category. We felt their producers already get 'consistently fair prices that would have made' ad- ditional. •prot-ectionun- necessary. With these ex- ceptions, Bill -96 would have. applied to every single ,.. producer. of every single farm commodity in 'Ontario — farm products with a value of with the three general farm organizations -- the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Christian Farmers' Federation and the Ontario District 'of the National Fariners' Utiion." "The Ontario Federation of Agriculture favored a plan covering all commodities and based on insurance principles with provision for . con- tributions from farmers and the federal and • provincial also called for a clearly- defined role for farmer representatives ' . in the development process." "The Christian Farmers' Federation found Bill' 96 sufficient and adequate. It suggested - 4 a few` modifications, but supported the plan." "The . National Farmers' Union filed a.National Policy Statement that had been adopted 'in December, 1975..It dismissed Ottawa's Bill. C-5.0 as irrelevant. It asked for- a stabilization plan based on current production costs and a formula indexing all major cost components. The N.F.U. also called for federal - provincial -producer con- tributions to a fund that would operate in; conjunction with quotas, import controls and other. facets of supply management." "While we had thus con- suited in depth with the legally constituted, farm spokesmen, I wanted to -'give individual farmers additional opportunities to express their • views at public forums. Public meetings were arranged and well advertised in ten centres across the province, J. was .able to an- swer some' of the questions that arose at these meetings on the evening of October 4 by means of a telephone con- ference call hooked up to loudspeaker systems -in the. meeting places. In addition, my ''• ministry's area, co- ordinators gave me extensive reports onthe opinions voiced at each forum." "Certain key points became . evident ' at these public meetings. , The majority' -of farmers wanted greater• producer par- ticipation and heavy farm representation on the stabilization commission.• They wanted a voluntary, .contributory form ' • of stabilization .where farmers wishin g protection would pay premiums to enrol their commodities, and they wanted the level of support prices to reflect realistically what was happening in the market place, so that they couldn't have a detrimental effect on the competitive - more than $600 million." -Position of Ontario's "W,e knew we .couid'afford agricultural products." that 'plan within the anti- "With • the aid of all this inflationary , restraints ..we -input from farmers and farm have placed on government groups, the.government was. spending. We knew it would able to evaluate • several operate without providing ' alternative, a types of farin incentives that would invite income stabilization plan that over -production and, in . would'co'mply with the'stated consequence, bureaucraticwishes of this house. Each consequence, bureaucratic was weighed withpain- -- interference in, the farmers' 'staking'' care before we chose thought we were offering the - the `plan embodied in the bill best plan we could offer at the that' will be tabled in a few 'time. But the majority in this minutes." house disagreed.:' . • "These are what I consider }`A committee of cabinet the highlights of the bill:" wase subsequently formed to ``It will be ' a voluntaFy, deal with the problems of re- • contributory' plan run by a introducing legislation by the Crown Commission of at least • specified date." five members, predominantly represen- tatives of Ontario's producers." .-- present their -Views to this "All marketed agricultural committee of ministers., products in this province will Twenty-four - ' groups were •be eligible for coverage. The represented at the meeting on commission • will' 'establish August 3. More of .them regulations for enrolling• any supported Bill 96 than op- serious producer as it sets up posed it. SeyeraI were .non -separate .stabilization funds committal, -,..usually •because for various commodities.'' their'•producers would not be ,` `The ' government of affected. The views ex- Ontario will contribute $2 for pressed by the remainder every_$1 the producer,.pays in could not fairly be summed enrolment premiums." up in terms of pro and con or . "Prices and costs used in black and white. Rather, they the Ontario fermula will be ranged through various the same as those used in the shades of gray. At any rate', federal plan, and federal •no- consensus emerged from • officials have assured us of these' discussions and sub- their full• co-operation in sequent— Y.: written sub- supplying • any necessary. missions." technical data. 1 have ex - •"On August •12 the same plained why our plan must committee of ministers met dovetail With theirs, but let me stress once again that the government will continue to press for the type of meaningful,• national stabilization program which all parties in this house want to see." 'The Provincial Plan will provide : two forms of protection. .When a com- modity is "named" in' the Federal Act for support at the 90 per . cent level, as I discussed earlier, our. payments will boost returns to Ontario producers to the 95 per cent level.. The Ontario stabilization price will be -95 .per cent of the average'' market price over the previous five years adjusted for cash cost increases. The Federal Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Whelan has said that any '.other' com- modities that need support on a yearly - basis will be "designated" ' under.the Federal Act' for the sae 90 per cent level of support. In these cases Ontario payments will 'also beNa4 95 per cent. However, if a commodity is not covered in either way by .the Federal Act in a year of low market prices, the Ontario Plan will provide a payment equal to the dif- ference between the 95 per cent level and the 90 percent level." 'What agriculture really needs; of course, is uniform support of every Canadian farm product at the 90 per cent level plus a three-way partnership to provide ad- ditional protection to the 95 per cent level forany farmer who wants to help fund it. The federal government should be sharing the' . costs of the voluntary portion on a dollar - for -dollar basis with the province and participating producers We've been telling Ottawa that for years. But we can'twait any longer, so we'll put in Ottawa's dollar to get the program• moving." "As you will see, Mr. Speaker, it is •impossible to predict what our plan will Cost in any given year. The maximum cost . to . the government might range from $60 to $70 • million an- nually. On the basis . of , the two-for-one• cost-sharing formula, the maximum cost tb contributing , 'farmers would be half as much." ` "The provincial., govern- ment introduced a voluntary, contributory price:_ ;support program for our beef calf producers last year. It will cbntinue to operate separately from the . other stabilization funds until all. cow -calf contracts expire in 1980; I certainly. trust that a proper federal: stabilization program. will be fully operational- by then. • In' the event that it' is not, the Ontario Stabilization Com- mission will decide what "I invited Ontario's Farm Product Marketing_ Boards and commodity groups to voua HEAD DUAETEAS FOR •ROGERS MAJESTIC TV •EXPERT TV SERVICE • ANTENNA & TOWER • INSTALLATION WARY sr. GODEAICH 524-9089 • • arrangements should be made for beef calf operators. desiring continuing protec- tion," . "We intend to leave other operational decisions of a similar nature in' the hands of the pro. icer -oriented cominissioh.4As I have said, the majfi1' t !' „•of Ontario producer's have , indicated they want a greater voice in the decision -mak ng. The ri4w act is designed to meet...their wishes.„ •t_. "We have complied with the -stated wishes of the majority of members, We have ,produced a voluntary, participatory plan that operates through the market price mechanism but takes • account of significant changes ;in the farmer's cash costs. We have left the farmer free to make his, own production decisions. 'Arid we - have avoided the risk of :. balkanizing Canada's agricultural . economy by retaining provisions that are Compatible with the existing national stabilization' program while we continue working for a better one." Young farmers advisory . committee Agriculture and Food Minister William Newman has announced the mem- bership . of the newly - established Minister's Advisory Committee of Young Farmers. The 10 -member com- mittees firstmeeting' was held this week in Toronto. The members elected John Hart, of Woodstock, as'Chairman. .. •Other members are Terry Malcolm.; of Janetville; John `Core, of :Wyoming; Steve Pallett, cif Pefferiaw ; Bill Knowles, of Langton; Alain Lavigne. of Ste. • Anne de Prescott; . Don Belluz, of Thunder Bay; Frank Haasen, . of Timmins; John Maaskant, of Clinton; and Lyle Vanclief, of Ameliasburg. The • : minister's advisory, committee will a-ddre'ss itself to , problems particularlyy related to young farmers. rs 8 NR mrirr 7/, APRIL 13-20 -WEEK 'AN ADS WORK WONDER You Ion't have to line; up to buy the new 1976-77 series CANADA SAVINGS BONDS. Why not let us tell you how you . can "lock up" an attractive income (9.13% over 9 years) while still enjoying the option of obtaining instant - cash when you need it. G. C. Bean 200 Queens Avenue, Tel. 524-7156 London PitfIeld, Mackay,•Ross & Company Limited 35 strategically located offices across Canada International offices: New 'York: London: Geneva: . . 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