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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-03-09, Page 1212 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, March 9, 2005 Agriculture crisis for Ontario farmers Dear Editor: Four years ago, several hundred Eastern Ontario farmers organized trac- tor rallies as a protest because of extremely low grain and oilseed prices. Following the protest, several meetings were held involving local farm leaders, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Corn Producers Association, and the Soybean Growers Association. After reviewing the Quebec agriculture com- modity price program, it was agreed that the farm organizations would jointly pre- pare a price support program using the Quebec Program as a model for presen- tation to farmers and the Ontario govern- ment. At that time, it was estimated a program could be in place for the follow- ing year. What has happened since these initial discussions? Virtually nothing, other than we are much further behind, with com- modity prices hitting 25 -year lows and our neighbours in Quebec and from the U.S. dumping commodities into Ontario at below their production costs without any countervail action from Ontario. We understand that the subsidies received in Quebec and the U.S. are causing their prices to be approximately twice those of Ontario, e.g. Quebec guarantees their producers $4.95 per bushel of corn as compared to the Ontario corn producers receiving $2.30. Their other products are similarly advantaged. I understand that our farm organiza- tions said that they could not get any real commitment from government. Because the requirement to have only one farm organization to administer the proposed rich province is Dear Editor: It would be easy to write off the "One Voice March on Queen's Park" (March 2, 2005) rally as just a bunch of farmers fed up with the government's treatment of Ontario's agricultural community. After all, who isn't fed up with being over -reg- ulated, under -valued and under -paid? But what we must realize - perhaps as never before - is that as Ontarians we are all in this together. A strong nation and a strong Ontario are dependent upon a strong rural and urban economy. Our primary resources and our primary pro- ducers are the backbone of this nation. As with most public displays of dissen- sion, there lies within a greater depth of despair. In this case, that despair is enough to motivate thousands of farmers and related agricultural interests to leave their land, trek to Queen's Park from all across the province, expose themselves to public scrutiny, and all in order to seek governmental and societal recognition of their desperate situation. Is this the right course of action? Well, it most definitely is a last -resort action. It most definitely will get attention. Will it net results? Who knows? But here is what we, as members of The Ontario Rural Council, do know today: The current despair driving farm- ers to the provincial government's front door goes far beyond the farmers' field. The reverberations are being felt throughout all of rural Ontario. Although the Queen's Park rally draws attention to agriculture, the vast rural and remote landscape of this resource - program. I suspect that rather than engaging in a "turf war" these groups preferred to tread water. Now, three years later, the situa- tion is worse than ever. Not only are prices at disaster levels, other overwhelming problems such as BSE (Mad Cow), nutrient management, a Government Support Program (CAIS) that is incomprehensible with unknown benefits, and on top of everything else the government is imposing impractical reg- ulations that will cost the farmers and landowners a great deal of money and hardships. The farm organizations have allowed this to happen, in my opinion, as a result of weak negotiations and ineffective lead- ership. The government probably real- izes these weaknesses and consequently are not concerned about farmers. What is required is a firm action plan that will force the government to listen. During the 1960s, farm organizations were getting absolutely nowhere in con- vincing the government to reduce the municipal and township property and school tax burden. Action was taken by the farmers whereby they withheld pay- ment of their municipal taxes. It was amazing how fast the government react- ed. I recommend that a similar plan to withhold taxes should be planned and implemented now. A trust fund could be established whereby farmers and farm related businesses would submit their taxes to the trust fund. One should not be too worried about paying interest on any outstanding taxes as this would be repealed in the final agreed settlement with the government. Just imagine the economic impact of this plan. The present methods are just more of the same: Total failure. The present farm organizations have really let the farmers down, and because of this, I am putting the OFA on notice that if they fail to solve these problems by the beginning of 2006, I will no longer pay my Farm membership to the OFA. I suggest that other members take similar action. Letters to the Editor DAN HARKIN, PAST PRESIDENT Dundas Federation of Agriculture Winchester, ON experiencing many of the same crippling symptoms due to factors beyond their control. As a Council ▪ whose members are e drawn from many differ- ent sectors – economic and infrastruc- ture, environmental, health, education, social services, government and resources – we hear it on a daily basis. We hear that farmers are stewards of the countryside and contributors to the overall fabric of their communi- ties. We hear that farmers are vital cogs in the economic engine of their local communities. We hear that when farmers can no longer farm effectively it resonates loudly and with devastating impact on all those connected with their viabili- ty: farm suppliers and equipment dealers, retailers, feed dealers, veteri- narians, preventative and mental heath services, community services, volunteer services and debt counsel- ing. We hear about the struggle to keep our once -thriving rural and remote communities alive and fully function- ing, with school doors open and basic health care still accessible. We hear about the exodus of youth – the stewards of tomorrow – gravitat- ing to the south from the north, or to urban from rural in order to go "where the jobs are". We hear of many who want to con- tinue being productive members of their rural communities, but are faced with a growing inability to do so. What does the farmer share with all of us? Like all Ontarians, he and his family are members of a community. It is the rural community. And whether it lies north, south, east or west of Queen's Park....it is in jeop- ardy. It is time to understand and sup- port - not criticize. The issues before us are far bigger than just agriculture. THE ONTARIO RURAL COUNCIL Guelph, Ontario SH gets Action Fluid grant EXETER — South Huron is receiving a Communities in Action Fund grant for $ 6,800 from the Ontario gov- ernment to increase physical activity and sport participation rates in the municipality. Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell, made the announcement Feb. 25 on behalf of Minister of Tourism and Recreation Jim Bradley. Highlights of the grant, funded through ACTIVE2010's Com- munities in Action Fund, include "Fun Fit," which will implement a physi- cal activity program in seven elementary schools in South Huron. "This Communities in Action Fund grant will create more opportuni- ties for South Huron to get active," said Mitchell. "Providing enhanced opportunities for physical activity and community sport and recreation will help us to become healthier and more prosperous as a province." The $5.2 million Communities in Action Fund provides grants for new initiatives that con- tribute to increasing opportunities for Ontarians to be physi- cally activity and partic- ipate in sports. The fund helps local and provincial not-for-profit organizations provide more community sport and recreation projects. Priority will be given to projects that benefit underserved groups like older adults, children and youth, girls and women, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal people, those in low- income categories and visible and ethnic minorities. "Less than half of all Ontarians are physically active on a regular basis," said Bradley. "Through ACTIVE2010's Communities in Action Fund, we are providing funding to community projects that remove barriers preventing peo- ple from participating in sport and recreation programs." ACTIVE2010 is Ontario's new strategy to increase physical activity and sport partic- ipation throughout Ontario so that by the year 2010, 55 per cent of Ontarians are physi- cally active. Find out more at www.ACTIVE2010. ca DO YOU KNOW THE TAXI COMPANY YOU'RE RIDING WITH DID YOU KNOW that every year your local taxi companies have to be approved by your local Municipality of South Huron to be licensed and approved for your community. DID YOU KNOW that the tires, brakes, steering and many other main components on these taxis must be checked on a regular basis and a safety must be performed regularly to maintain these vehicles for your safety and the drivers' safety as well. DID YOU KNOW that all of our drivers have had criminal record checks done and driver's abstracts done to ensure you are riding with the best drivers we can provide for you. DID YOU KNOW that these vehicles must have proper insurance on them to provide care for you as a customer in case the unthinkable happens, like an accident while you are riding in a taxi. DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW WHO YOU'RE RIDING WITH Call the company that has always been fully licensed, insured and in good standing with the Municipality of South Huron. Call the compa- ny that has over 10 years of experience with knowing what is impor- tant to your safety even if you never considered these things before today. Call the company that makes your safety a number 1 priority from transporting your family, to your employees...Let Star Taxi take you there worry free. 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