HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-07-14, Page 28PAGE : .3A—GODER ICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JULY `I4: 1977
O
Pop can tax drop
By Jack Riddell
Huron -Middlesex MPP
Facing almost certain
defeat by the combined
Opposition Parties -on its
proposed pop -can tax, the
Government drooped the bill
from its list of priority items:
No indication has been given
that this bill will be rein-
troducedin the Fall Session.
Thea tax measure, first
proposed in the April Budget,
was expected to raise some
$20 Million in provincial
revenue. Now that the
legislation ' has been scrap, -
ped, the Government will be
forced to make spending cuts
equivalent to $20 million in
programs of 'various
ministries to avoid exceeding
the $1 billion deficit expected
for this year. Revenue
shortfalls of about $140
million beyond April Budget
forecasts have already
become apparent.
The other Budget bills have
now been passed. The Liberal
Party amended the Retail
Sales Tax Act bill, and we
opposed both the Tobacco
Tax -Act and the Corporations
Tax Act amendments."
Approval has been given
to a change in Ontario speed
limits from 'miles to
kilometres, effective Sep-
tember 6th. Provincial work
crews will begin making the
changes after Labour Day,
putting stick -on signs bearing
the' new markings over
'existing road signs. Thirty
mph becodies 50 kph (31.2
mph) 35 and 40 mph become
Go kph (37.5 mph),, 45 ,mph
becomes 70 kph (43.7 mph), 50
mph converts exactly to 80
kph, 55 mph becomes 90 kph
(56.2 mph) and 60 mph -
becomes 100 kph (62%5 mph),
'Although -'the' change
becomes law on September
6th. the metric speed limits
will not become effective
" tin I ttie -neW signs are in
place- In the meantime.
existing speed limits will be
enforced. During debate on
the bill, the Minister of
Transportation and Com-
munications agreed to have
Highway 69 approaching
Sudbury, which at present
has a 50 mph speed limit,
converted to 90 kph; the
metric equivalent of 55 mph,
whjch will, place the highway
on the same footing as High-
way 11 between Huntsville
and North Bay, kept at 55
mph when the province's
other two lane highways were
given the 50 mph limit. High-
way 11 is part of• the Trans-
Canada Highway, and the
federal government wanted a
uniform °55:• rtph tciuiit across`
the country.
The minister of agriculture
and food, the Honourable
Wifiian Newman, introduced
the Farm Products Payments
Amendment Act. The -purpose
of this bill is to make it
possible for farm commodity
groups to set up producer and
buyer commodity groups to
protect the producers from
financial loss- in -the case of
bankruptciesin the
agricultural community.
The Bill arose out of the
financial task force report.
This report stated that losses
to Ontario Farmers at-
tributed to bankruptcy in the
last 10 years have totalled
$1.35 million. Speaking on this
bill. I welcomed this
legislation but felt that it was
long .overdue in light of the.
fact that there have been a
' number of bankruptcies in
. the processing industry over
the- last 10 years which have
led to tremendous financial
losses to the farmer.S. I also
felt that it was too bad that•we
have to deaj with such an
important piece of legislation
in° such haste as the farm
organizations have not had
an opportunity to peruse the
bill and give us the benefit of
their comments.
Farmers operate op a
principle of trust in the sale of
their products. It is often very
difficult for a farmer to
evaluate a buyer's ability to
pay. This legislation- can go
far in eliminating this risk. ,
We recognize the Act as being -
permissive legislation
enabling the government to
act by- regulation. This Act
itself will not provide the
financial protection. It must
be done by 'regulation. The.
two!) major priorities which
are both contained in the enab
ling legislation and which
require immediate action are.
a requirement for prompt'
payment and the licensing -of
processors who purchase
farm products.
The Ontario. Government
will exempt bona fide Ontario
farmers from the land
spec.alation tax if they have
farmed their ,land for ten
years or morel.
Agricultur4 and food
mini§ter Bill Newman ex-
plained that the ten-year
period need not be con-
secutive . He„_ also said. •the -
exemption applies to farmers
who. areoccupying their, land
but are not farming it, so long
as t`hey-did farm it for at Fast
ten years in the' past. For
farmers who have farmed for
less than ten years, the
government will permit a
partial exemption. These
changes will be made by
amendment to The Land
Speculation Tax Act during
this session of the Legislature
•
and will be retroactive -'tY
April 20, 1977.
Mr. Newman, said the
changes were beingmade
particularly to protect the
retiring ..farmer who may
live on his land witliput
farming it for a -few years
-"before..acLItally selling it. He
said, z'It- makes no sense to
penalize: `a ..bora' fide' farmer
just because he wishes to ease
the transition period of his
retirement by remaining for
a time on the land that has
been his.:, home for many
years:"
The changes to be made in
the land' Speculation__ tax.‘‘
supercede the changes an-
_nounred in the Proxincial
budget last April.
The Shriners came on wheels
e sl
nes
Big Bear
GARBAGE
BAGS
Pkg. of 10
ALL PRICES SHOWN...IN THIS AD GUARANTEED EFFECTIVE THROUGH SATURDAY JULY 16TH, 1977.
A8P
Suncoast Mai
Highway 21 South
GODERICH
Open Monday thru Saturday
9 a. m..- 9:3-01).m.
Assorted Varieties Including
Oatmeal 8' Chocolate Chip
Margarine
ACTION PRICED!
BANDED
PKG
OF 2
3 -LB
PKGS
Sail—Blue
(Prepriced )
1
ACTION PRICEDi
Ready -to -Serve -87 Varieties
Jane Parker — Hamburg Buns or
Davey Crockett came
(Plus 20c Per Bottle (spoilt)
3 Varieties of .Dessert Cups and 7. Varieties of Pullrinys
SURANCE
George Tutton
LIFE, AUTO,
FIRE AND
''ALL OTHER LINES
319 HURON ROAD
GODERICH7'41
•
pkg
of 12
pkg of
4 -5 -oz
tins
1
•