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Home My WebLink AboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-06-09, Page 5Jottings by Jack -from Queen's Park Fcurm income act introduced This week in the Legislature, the Minister of Agriculture and Food introduced the Farm In- come Stabilization Act, 1976. Mr. Newman, in his introduc- tion said that it will play a vital role in maintaining a strong agricultural base in Ontario to the benefit of both producer and consumer. He outlined the events and policies that have led to this legislation. Farmers, he said have always been plagued by the problem of cash returns fluctuating wildly' from one year to the next. With farm production costs spiralling, there has been intensive discussion in recent years of ways to help offset per- iods of low market prices and thus bring greater stability to the whole agriculture and food corn- - plex. The goal is to set support price levels high enough to be meaningful in the lean years, but not so high that they would act as incentives for over -production. The key, provisions of the Act, Mr. Newman said provides for the appointment of five or more members to a Farm Income Stabilization Commission of Ontario. They will administer a permanent fund for programmes providing support to all Ontario commodities other than those named or designated under the Federal Act and those regulated by marketing boards that both set prices and allot quotas. The latter category comprises dairy products, poultry and eggs. Our Beef -Calf programme will operate independently until the Government's contracts with pro- ducers expire in 1980, at which time it will also come under the commission's regulations. The programme is- thus designed to embrace all commodities for which no federal support is available, except in those cases where prices established by mar- keting boards are higher than the stabilization support level. Commodities for which stabil- ization is made available will be supported at a level equal to 90% of the average market price for the previous five years, ad- justed for production cost chan- ges in the current year as com- pared to the five year average. This is the same level at which the federal programme operates, so Ontario's plan should have no undersirable effects on the mar- keting systems in our sister provinces. Mr. Newman said if unusual circumstances made it necessary, the commission could provide extra support for a specific com- modity by temporarily increasing the base level above 90%. • i t All the commissioners will be members of Ontario's agricultural community and every effort will be made to ensure a broad representation of interests. The Commission's general manager will be its chief administrative officer. Subject to ministerial approval, the commission may also engage outside experts if necessary. It will be empowered to consult and conduct discuss- ions with marketing boards and any other organizations or groups of producers of this province. The Commission's accounts will be audited by the Provincial Auditor and its annual reports will be submitted to this House. Ontario's promised legislation to protect buyers of new houses from shoddy workmanship has been introduced by the Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations. The Act, expected to take effect this fall, would guara- ntee that "a home is constructed. in a workmanlike manner, free of major structural defects and free from defects in materials, is fit for habitation and con- structed in accordance with the Ontario Building Code." The warranties would cover all defects for one year and major structural faults for five years, and will apply to all new homes except cottages and rental units. The Minister told reporters that "high consumer demand for new hous- ing has resulted in a situation where even houses which are poorly built are readily sold at high prices, which makes this law necessary." The law will curb the small number of builders- "less than 15 per cent" who construct poor housing, and under the legislation all builders in the province will have to regis- ter with a non-profit corporation, to include representatives of the government and the Consumers Association of Canada, which will have the power to order builders to carry out repairs. Some three years ago, inci- aentally, Phil Givens, Liberal M.P.P. for Armourdale, intro- duced a Private Member's Bill to provide protection for pur- chasers of new homes and man- datory adherence to the minimum standards of the Ontario Building Code. His Bill also proposed that houses be inspected at least four times during the construction period and be warrantied by the builder against all hidden defects for a period of five years after completion of construction and against all obvious defects for; a period of one year after com- letion. HARWOOD RUG WM® HARWOOD, PHM® ,ria 22 81 CRESCENT 238-8540 P.O. Box 670 GRAND BEND LOCATED NEXT TO THE GRAND BEND POST OFFICE OPENING JUNE 19 • • • i 1 • i i I .%%•%%%%%% Visit Our Store FOR A COMPLETE LINE OF Groceries * Confectionery * Novelties * Dairy Store MAIN ST - ZURICH PHONE 236-4930 There has been considerable discussion in the Legislature re- cently about industrial health hazards, as a result of questions raised by Liberal. Leader Stuart Smith and other Opposition Members. The Minister of Health announced that the Gove- rnment has initiated courses to train inspectors from the Mini- stries of Labour, Environment and Natural Resources, to re- cognize potential health hazards, making simple tests on air con- ditions and noise, -In the past. inspectors have checked on such matters as industrial safety only. Following the Minister's announ- cement, the Minister of Labour said she would like to employ women to inspect industrial plants because "females are a little more sensitive to house- keeping conditions than perhaps some males are". At present an the 170 inspectors are men, and the Minister said she genuinely believes that women are general- ly neater than men and would be more likely to spot health hazards caused by dirt and dust. The Minister of Health also announced that he will try to ensure reports of his Ministry's Occupational Health Protection Branch are, posted in work places. The reports usually go to the Management of companies inspected and are not always shared with workers. In the event that there are any legis- lative obstacles to posting this information in work places, the Minister intends to endeavour to obtain Cabinet support for remov- ing them. According to the Minister of Natural Resources anyone can. purchase up to 100 pounds of dynamite at a local hardware store or other licenced outlet. In an interview the Minister said that all it takes to buy explosives is proof of identity. Purchasers must also sign for the dynamite and indicate what they intend to use it for and where, but they are not asked whether they have any experience in using explosiv- Citizens News, June 9, 1976 -Page 5 Jack Riddell as or whether they intend "to blow up their mothers or blow up a bank or anything". The Minist- er had previously been asked in the Legislature whether the On- tario Mining Act will be changed to make it difficult for people to .steal dynamite from mining operations. .%...•"►...v•...•..... 1 1 t •i 0 1 i • s y CLOSE June 9 to June 16 INCLUSIVE Carpenter Optical Shoppe 405 Main St. 235-0511 Exeter ,►'x o,1010MO► %.1000cxaa. Your car let you down again? End the problem once and for all by trading your car in on a DEPE ` : BLE USEiJ C R From the big selection at Larry Snider's 1975 LTD Landeau 4 -door, fully equipped, automatic air, stereo, luxury package. Sold new for over $8,000. Licence JCE678. $5 7 1973 GALAXIE 500 4 -door sedan, V-8, auto- matic, power steering, power brakes. Li- cence DHH472. $ 2,695 1974 DODGE Monocco 4 -door, V-8, automat- ic, power steering, power brakes, air con- ditioning. Licence DFZ776. $3,095 1974 LTD Country Squire, split bench seats, dura -weave trim, deluxe luggage rack, electric defroster. Licence HZP281. $4®195 1971 MUSTANG 2 -door, • 240 6 cylinder, automatic, power steering, new paint. Lic- ence DFU707. $2 095 1970 MAVERICK 2 -door, 6 cylinder, automat- ic, Michelin tires. Before inspection. Licence A U L028. $695 Ermsse 1973 OLDS Delta 88 Royalle, V-8, automatic, power steering and brakes, finished in jade metallic with white vinyl roof. Licence DD0015. $3,295 1972 FORD LTD. 2 -door, V-8, automatic, power steering, power brakes. Licence D H E487 . 52, 95 1973 OLDS Cutlass, 2 -door, V-8, automatic, power steering, power brakes. Licence FAZ185. $2,99 5 • 1971 MERCURY Marquis Colony Park station wagon, V-8, automatic, power steering and brakes, deluxe luggage rack. Licence H MF262, $2,395 1974 GREMLIN X, 6 cylinder engine, auto- matic transmission. Licence DAE278. $2,395 1972 VOLKSWAGEN Fastback, automatic, finished In beautiful black. Licence CZE770. $1,995 Remember .. 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