Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-03-24, Page 1JOHN DEERE (519)235-1115 www.hurontractor.com INHURON TRACTOR page LEAGUE CHAMPIONS EXETER JR.`D' HAWKS vs'PT. STANLEY SUN. MAR. 28_7:30 P.M. South Huron Rec Centre TIMES -ADVOCATE Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, March 24, 2004 Aid for farmers By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VANASTRA — Canadian beef produc- ers may find some financial relief by tap- ping into a new batch of federal funding dollars. Prime Minister Paul Martin announced March 22 a Transitional Industry Support program which will provide a total of $680 million to Canadian beef cattle producers. The funding will be deliv- ered as a direct payment of up to $80 per eligible animal on inventory as of Dec. 31, 2003. All cattle are eligible except mature cows and bulls. Similar payments will also be available for other ruminant ani- mals such as sheep and bison. An application form will be available on the Agriculture Canada Web site. Payments are to begin flowing to pro- ducers in April. A further $250 million is being made available to all agricultural producers as bridge funding to the new Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization pro- gram. At a meeting hosted by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture in Vanastra March 20 Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle said recovering from the sin- gle case of BSE discovered in Alberta last year has proven to be a massive under- taking. "The biggest challenge is how to get the money to the farmers without the packers clawing it back. LES HUR BEEF FALCONER, ON COUNTY PRODUCERS In response to questions from Les Falconer of the Huron County Beef Producers as to why the market prices are so low, Steckle said he is looking for answers. He said one of the problems lies with the power held by the big packing companies, who draw back the prices to pro- ducers. "The biggest challenge is how to get the money to the farmers without the packers clawing it back. "They've got the power," he said. "It's to the point where lives are being threat- ened, but if you confront them, they say it's based on innuendo." He said one option could be to set a floor price for livestock. As for the opening of the U.S. border, See FARMERS page 2 Board implements policy change By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF AUSABLE BAYFIELD — The board of directors of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) imple- mented a revision to its policy and pro- cedures manual regarding Ontario Regulation 46/95 March 18. Water and Planning supervisor Kelly Vader asked the board to formalize a change to the Natural Heritage Policies. Vader said staff members have been asking applicants to complete an Environmental Impact Study to assess impact to the conservation of land in accordance with the approval of the Provincial Policy Statement in section three of the Planning Act. The revision formalized staff policy and compliance with provincial standards, but will not change the way staff review landowners applications for changes to regulated land. Online mapping The board approved recommendations that ABCA partner with Ceusta Systems Inc, St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, Essex Region Conservation Authority and Conservation Halton to complete the first phase of a conserva- tion management online project, com- mitting $16,580. The board also approved an additional amount of funding totaling $12,000 to cover the internal cost of the project. GIS/CAD and Information Systems Specialist Tracey Boitson told the board the first phase of the project will provide a Web mapping product for viewing, displaying and mapping. Boitson also asked the board to com- mit to working with the partners to progress to the second and third phases and to seek funding opportunities for these aspects of the project. Phase two will provide data modeling and applications to run through the Web Mapping browser to allow man- agement of files and activities occurring on parcels of land. Phase three will provide data model- ing and applications to manage moni- toring and other point data files. Ontario Geological Survey Water and Planning Manager Alec Scott told the board ABCA staff met with staff from the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) to discuss the possibility of using the ABCA as project manager to com- plete groundwater aquifer mapping studies of interest to both parties. The conservation authority's sinkhole study and a groundwater investigation in the north part of Lambton County are two studies which could qualify for funding through the OGS program. The board approved recommendations that staff continue to work with OGS to finalize an agreement for funding to complete the projects and that if it's approved, Waterloo Hydrogeologic Inc. be allowed to provide a proposal to complete the extension to the sinkhole investigation. If the proposals are accepted there will be 100 per cent grant rate funding to retain consultants to complete the work and reimburse the ABCA for its costs to manage the projects. The ABCA will contribute data already collected. The total cost of the projects is approximately $250,000. Tender The board accepted a tender of $35,338.35 from Van Bree Drainage and Bulldozing to complete repairs to Gabion baskets at the Walker drain. 1.25 (includes GST) Aveleigh Keller of Exeter tries out a pair of snowshoes at a March Break day camp hosted by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) March 18. Sean Vader of Bayfield looks on. Day camps were held for children between the ages of five and 10 March.16 and March 18 from 8:30-4:30 at the Morrison Dam Education Centre. The kids enjoyed snowshoeing, a compass treasure hunt, crafts, wildlife tracking, wilderness skills and more. The ABCA will be looking into running a similar program next year (photo/Mary Simmons) Police continue search for robbers ZURICH — Huron OPP continue to investigate an armed robbery at the Bank of Montreal in Zurich shortly before 3 p.m. March 15. Two masked suspects entered the Bank of Montreal. One of them was armed with a gun. The suspects are described as slim white males, between 5'6" and 6' in height. They are believed to be in their late teens to early 20s and were wearing black jackets with a white stripes on the arms and black pants. Both suspects wore black balaclavas. An undisclosed quantity of cash was taken. A third suspect remained in a vehicle outside of the bank during the robbery. The vehicle is described as a late model green Jeep Cherokee. A similar vehicle was discovered, com- pletely burned, on Parr Line near Rodgerville Road in the Municipality of Bluewater, a short distance south-east of Zurich. Huron OPP believe a small white vehicle was used by the suspects to leave the area. This vehicle is described as a Ford Escort hatchback, white with a green pin- stripe, gray interior, aluminum wheels, in good condition. Citizens who have any information regarding this crime are asked to notify Huron OPP at 1-519-524-8314 or to con- tact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477(TIPS).