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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-09-20, Page 32GODI RICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1979—PAGE IIA' Nobody knows about farm taxes...yet BY ALICE GIBB Assessment com- missioner Floyd Jenkins, speaking to Huron Federation of Agriculture members in Belgrave recently on the subject of tax equalization factors, told his audience "somebody organized a horse race before there were any horses." He said the big change is that factors for rural municipalities have decreased to am greater Not too optimistic about chicken deals Ontario chicken producers will be seriously hurt unless the Federal Government takes a strong stand in this week's negotiations with the U.S. on broiler imports, Peter Hannam, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), said recently. Hannam said farmers have seen Canadians go cap in hand to the Americans too often to be optimistic about the negotiations which began on September 19. "The Americans know how to be tough," he said. "When Canada arrested a few U.S. tuna fisher- men, what happened? The Americans em- bargoed our tuna. That's the kind of backbone our negotiators need." He said the current problem with chicken imports has developed because the previous government had procrastinated in establishing a national chicken agency. A few companies, in the hope of receiving large import quotas, have taken ad- vantage of the delay by increasing their chicken imports. The result is an oversupply and distress prices for the processors and producers. Hannam sent a letter earlier in. the week' to Federal Agriculture Minister, John Wise, urging him not to reward these few companies who have tried to destroy the domestic industry. What lie :reed he said, are h is q'uota's allocated -among processors on the basis of their market share of domestic product rather ;than on their import base. He also urged that retailers not be allowed to import chicken directly. Hannam concluded by saying that 'while Canadian negotiators should be instructed to stop the present flood of imports, it must be stressed to them that the most important issue is to Riddell BY JACK RIDDELL, M.P.P. I am pleased to an- nounce that the National Chicken Agency is now fully operational and that% the Federal Assistant Deputy 'Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Trant, went to Washington on September 19 to begin negotiations for import controls with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For some time, I have pressured the federal and provincial governments, because I firmly believe Ontario's chicken in- dustry will only survive if immediate and effective action is taken to restrict U.S. imports. In my view, the importation of live chicken from the U.S. should cease until the end of the year and a regulatory system for all importation . of have future imports reduced to the level of the early 1970s. extent than they have in urban municipalities across the county. This means "costs to rural taxpayers will increase much more rapidly than to urban municipalities," the assessment com- missioner said. He told the audience he doesn't know how these factors will be used in assessing 1980 taxes and said -"anything you hear or read is strictly sup- position at this time." He said a "wait and see" attitude is called for. RM Mason Bailey,an audience member, told Mr. Jenkins, "I don't think the public cares about all this rigamarole other than how much money we're going to pay " Mr. Jenkins said, "You. don't know and I don't know that our taxes are going to go up." The matter is now in the hands of the provincial government and a decision from the legislature is expected early this fall. Then municipalities will have between that time and November 1 to appeal the equlization factors. Mr. Jenkins said there isn't any way to find out more information until the provincial govern- ment makes their decision. Another federation member asked the assessment com- missioner if the basis for calculating the educational tax isn't wrong. The man said "houses, not land, send • b :'ane loot in the furrow' bYaaa.e� Nobody is going to believe me but I'm going to say it anyway: Food is still.a bargain in Canada. Before every homemaker in the audience loads a shotgun, let me explain. The- Fraser Institute of Vancouver has piibl'ished a book with enough statistics to boggle my un - mathematical brain. It is an independent economic and social research educational institution with no special axe to grind. The book, Tax Facts, has the figures to prove that food costs across Canada have not increased as much as other sectors of the economy. Which isn't to say that food prices have not increased, mind you. They. have, but not as much as most people think. It is in other areas that the tax -paying public is being milked. For instance, the consumer tax index tracks .the tax bill faced by the average Canadian family from 1961 to 1978. The index includes collec- tions at the federal, provincial and municipal level along with all the hidden taxes paid on so many products. ........:.... .. It includes income tax, property tax, oil and gas tax, liquor tax,.sales tax, motor vehicle tax, amusement tax and all other taxes. This consumer tax index, then, increased 302 per cent between 1961 and 1978. The cost of shelter increased 255 ,per cent since 1961. Clothing costs increased 200 per cent. But food costs increased only 172 per cent. Why is it that everybody screams so hard and long about the cost of food when everything else increased by a greater percentage? Because food is so visible: We all have to eat and food shopping is done so regularly that the increases are noted weekly. Income and property taxes, for .instance, don't get paid every week. The tax bite on income comes only once a year. Theproperty tax bill comes only three or four times a year. We don't buy.:clothing'every week, either. on chicken case eviscerated chicken should be implemented. Our chicken industry is in serious difficulty due to increased U.S. imports, which for Ontario are 91 per cent higher this.. year than last. More than half a million live birds are backed up on producers farms in this province and Canadian frozen inventories are 176 per cent higher than the same period last year. Live prices to producers in Ontario are four cents below production costs, which are increasing. Chicken production has been regulated in this Province since 1965, and the prime objective is, of course, to ensure that all market requirement's are met, at the same - time avoiding' the disastrous results of over -supply. With the exception of Newfoundland, all WATER WELL DRILLING '19 YEARS EXPERIENCE" • FARM • SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL • MUNICIPAL • • FREE ESTIMATES • GUARANTEED WELLS • FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT • 4 ROTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS "OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES LOWER COST WATER WELLS" DAVIDSON WELL DRILLING 4 Rotary and Percussion Drills, LIMITED PHONE 357-1960 WINGHAM Collect Calls Accepted "ONTARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 190O" provinces have programs aimed at achieving these ends, although the plans vary. The system fun- ctions effectively if. there is a minimum of outside intervention. ' However, provincial planning is completely frustrated by unregulated • US imports. Under the terms of GATT, a nation must demonstrate orderly marketing before import controls can be negotiated. Now that the National Chicken Agency is fully ol;er'ational, an has established a system of penalties for over- production in Canada, there is every reason to hope that the U.S. threat to our chicken producers can be removed. CLAY -- Silo Unloaders Feeders Cleaners Stabling Leg Elevators Liquid Manure Equipment Hog Equipment B UTLER — Silo Unloaders Feeders Conveyors FARMATIC — Mills Augers, etc. ACORN — Cleaners Heated Waterers WESTEEL-ROSCO Granaries B 6 L - Hog Panelling LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS RR 1, Kincardine, Ont. Phone 39S-52$41 Letters are appreC aced by Bob Trott*, Eidaie Rd Eim.ra Ont N38 2C 7 What should be noted, too, by the harassed housewife is that what comes out of the supermarket is not all food. The grocery carts are filled with other items that cannot be included in the food bill such as cat food, dog food, soft drinks, toilet paper, facial tissue, hardware, glassware, cigarettes, soap, detergent, candy and anything else that the modern supermarket entices us to buy. Supermarkets in Ontario, at least, are in one of the most competitive situations .of any business. The big chains are fighting to maintain or increase their share of the 'market. A wise shopper can save. money by checking the specials and stocking up on them. The top men , in these chains have been un- derstandably reluctantto.:eveal.too much about their profits at the provincial inquiry into discounts and allowances. It is a good guess, though. that many chains work on a net profit of about three per cent on some items. Which isnot a ripoff. Canadians spend less than 20 , cents of their dis .o.sa.ble.,in m.. . p co e dollar.on food -, -a rE3.cQrd second only - to that of the United States. In many parts`of the world every moment and every resource is spent on trying to fill an empty stomach. We are fortunate in this country. We worry about getting gasoline for a second car. Billions of people worry about filling an aching gut. They don't even have a first car to fill. In fact, they would be happy to live in our gar'ages. Food, then, is still a bargain. That consumer tax index is something else, though. I wish I could convince myself that our tax dollars are being spent wisely and well. Taxes have increased a whopping 302 per cent. Add to that the deficit just at the, federal level and you wonder where this country is going. Complete Automotive Machine Shop - and Radiator Repair Service Let US do the work.... IDEAL SUPPLY COMPANY LIMITED 145 HURON ROAD, GODERICH 524-8389 • Established 1876 McKILLOP MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY HEAD OFFICE: 10 MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. Mrs. Margaret Shar`p. Sec. Treas. Ph. 527-0400 FULL COVERAGE Farm and Urban Properties Fire, Windstorm, Liability, Thelt Various Floater Coverages Homeowner's, Tenant's Package, Composite Dwelling DIRECTORS AND ADJUSTERS Ken Carnochan, R.R.p4, Seaforth Lavern Godkin, R.R.61, Walton Ross Leonhardt, R.R.61, Bornoholm John Mt:Ewing, R R.61, Blyth Stanley Mctlwain, R.R.N2,3ode1'f , Donald McKercher, R.R.61, Dublin John A. Taylor, R.R.41, Brukelietd J.N. Trewartha. Box 661, Clinton Stuart Wilson, R.R. 61, Brucefield AGENTS E.F. 'Bill' Durst, R. R. 84, Seaforl h James Keys, R. R.#1, Seeforth Wm. Leiper, R.R.81, Londesboro 482-3354 927-1877 345-2234 523-9390 524.7051 527-1837 482-7527 482-7593 527-0687 527-1455 527-0467 523-4257 CALL AN AGENT OR THE OFFICE asked whether, "we should be taking that view of t municipally?" Mr. Jenkins did assure the audience equalization factors would be calculated on valid farmer -to -farmer sales of. land across the county. He pointed out the pric.e of farmland has in- creased drastically since 1971 when the provincial government put a freeze on assessment. Mr. Jenkins • told the federation members, "inflation in values in urban municipalities has not been as great as in- flation in rural municipalities." He, said while land prices have gone up for farmland, they haven't increased as much in towns like Clinton and Goderich. Mr. Jenkins concluded by saying the change, in the equalization factor will eventually affect all taxpayers. Under the present cost sharing system in effect, the towns and villages in the county pay a greater share of county expenses. However, township residents claim urban populations gain much greater benefit from county services such as sewers and water er, systems and should pay for those services. Many members of the audience still seemed perplexed at how the equalization factors will affect their taxes and township mill rate in the coming year at the conclusion of the meeting. In' reviewing his past year as a member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture ,board of directors, Merle Gunby told federation members he believed the most significant activity was the food' industry inquiry initiated by Peter' Han - nap. _He...sa.id....h... e feels the food inquiry has pointed out the need .,for• the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and marketing. boards to improve their marketing activities and pointed out the practise of discounts and allowances in the retail food industry to consumers. He said other significant steps had been the amendment to the Petty Trespass Act and the institution of the Farm Price Index, which shows the consumer wh'ere his food dollar is going.' Mr. Gunby said the index, which is carried in many newspapers across the province, "quite often shows farmers are not responsible for the in- crease in food prices." He said the OFA's greatest failure was "we failed to get the gover- nment to take agriculture seriously." Among examples of this he said they had failed to get the government to take action and pass "deceht farm machinery legislation", had failed to stop imports of agricultural products and that GAAT trade negotiations in Tokyo proved disappointing from an agricultural point of view. FARM CLASSIFIED SECTION A. For sale STRAW FOR SALE. Phone 529-7542.-38 10 YORK-LANDRACE first litter gilts bred Duroc. Phone Randy Kerr 529-7680.-38x B. Custom work CUSTOM combining of oats, wheat, barley, and corn. Swathing also available. Phone Philip Steckle 565-5324 or Arnold Steckle 565-5329.-29TF Guaranteed Investment Certificates 1 1 W.E. (TED) WILLIAMS 524.7102 or 524-7665 REFRIGERATION Commercial and Industrial AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION SALES & SERVICE • Heat Pumps • Freezer & Chilling Rooms • Ice Cubes & Milk Coolers • Fre-Heaters (Free Hot Water) BUCHANAN & HALL LTD. 524-7758 DON C. JOHNSTON R.K. PECK APPLIANCES in The Heart of Down Town Verna • Vacuum Cleaners Soles and Service of most makes ' • CB Radios•and Accessories ..�.Spec-d..Que.e,n...q.pPl.i.anees-.. ............. _ .._..... „.,...........,. • Moffat Appliances ' "•'Smplxc Sensors • Insect Lights and Fly Killing Units • Handcrafted Gifts . Varna Ont. Phone 482.7103 B. Custom work CUSTOM silo filling, limited number accepted. Phone 524-8021.-38,39 C. Wanted CATTLE - We pay goad prices for reasonably injured or unthrifty cattle. Easy loading trailer with winch. Call collect 238-2796 Grand Bend. -37-39 WANTED TO RENT: Crop land in Colborne, Goderich and Ashfield Townships. Top dollar paid for top land. Call Steve Buchanan, Goderich 524- 4700.-38tfnc LARGEST STOCK IN THE COUNTY WORK BOOTS —Industrial —Farm —Factory Plain or safety toe PUNCTURE PROOF SOLES Open all day ,Wednesday ROSS SHOE SHOP 142 The Square Goderlch, Ont. The next decade may be the most Challenging of all for Canadian Farmers Don't miss at the 1979 International Plowing Match presented by