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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1990-08-08, Page 1Serving the communities and areas of Seaforth, Brussels, Dublin, Hensall and Walton Huron xpositor Seaforth, Ontario WEDNESDAY, AUGUST S. 1990 60 cents a copy Farm Start won't get us started, say farmers BY SUSAN OXFORD Farm Start, a program developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) to help new farmers, is turning into a program to deter qualified new farmers, according to some displeased applicants of the program. In 1988 Farm Stan was introduced by the Ontario government to 'help establish a new group of qualified and ambitious producers to ensure the future of Ontario's agricultural industry'. To help them the government would give qualified beginner farmers grants up to $38,000 over seven years from a $90 million fund. To be eligible the applicant must be: •a new farmer •must be willing to operate a farm business that will contribute a minimum of $8,000 (annually) to family living costs, or $5,500 if a residence is on a farm property •the applicant must establish an independent operation; grants may not benefit an established operation • must have an agricultural education, experience or com- bination sufficient to operate a successful farming business •equity in farm assets • be a Canadian citizen or per- manent resident and lived in On- tano for at least five years •must participate in a Farm Management Analysis Project and provide a production plan, cash flow and debt servicing worksheet for the upcoming year. Five applicants of Farm Start met for a small press conference at the Clinton area home of applicant David Pullen July 30 to tell their stories. Of the five applicants at the meeting one had received assistance from Farm Start, and after waiting for a long time and did not want to be identified. Most of the others are involved with, or considering, undertaking the appeal process offered by Farm Start. All of them felt they had been wrongly rejected for not complying with the rules, and all wondered what the rules are. David Pullen, a maple syrup and sweet corn farmer, felt he was rejected because he was attending University of Guelph, majoring in Crop Science, when he applied for Farm Scan. "One of the requirements is to have an agricultural education," said David. "I graduated last spring." In their letters to David OMAF said they couldn't see how he could be committed to farming while attending school full time. David wrote back and explained maple syrup run time and maintenance of the trees, plus planting and harves- ting corn coincide with his time off school. OMAF also questioned the 'sustainablity of David's natural farming methods, but David said OMAF would not listen to him and continued to reject him. After an appeal hearing in front of a Farmer Review committee where David presented his case with detailed information, OMAF still rejected him for Farm Start. Kirk and Arlene Hussey, Fordwich, had their application rejected after they had arranged their business to comply with the rules. Since Kirk had once managed a small farm supported by off -farm income, OMAF suggested they have KEN CAMPBELL, the second Huron County nominee for the Progressive Conservatives. a legal lease drawn up at their expense and then apply for Farm Stan. During the course of waiting to hear from OMAF, the rule con- cerning leases was changed and they were rejected. "I had leased my livestock, quota and equipment to my wife on their advice," said Kirk. "And that cost me in legal fees. So far Farm Stan has cost me about $1,400. "I went through the appeal process and my lawyer accom- panied me. We feel the rule change concerning leases should not affect us because we did it to comply with them and the change came after we applied. If we weren't eligible in the first place they should've just told us instead of doing it the way they did and putting me through these expenses." Another farmer at the meeting told of how he has gone beyond the appeal board to the Ontario Om- budsman. Cliff and Cheryl Holley, Zurich, also arranged a lease for their mixed farm with cattle, sheep and cash crops including spelt wheat that he has a contract for Turn to page 4 • Walton Post Office finds a new home Canada Post and the proprietors of the Walton Tea Room, Thys and B.J. de Jong, have reached an agreement to establish the new postal retail outlet in the Tea Room. Jim Craig, Media and Community Affairs officer for Canada Post, said in a telephone conversation with the Brussels -Blyth Citizen that the new service was set to begin on August 7, the first working day after the Civic Weekend. The last day of business for the Walton Post Office was this past Saturday, August 4, and the conversion took place over the holiday weekend. According to Canada Post, the new arrangement, which is taking place due to the retirement of postmistress Marjorie Humphries, Huron PC race rounds to two Another Seaforth area resident has thrown his hat into the Progressive Conservative nomination campaign, giving Tuckersmith Township native Nico Peters a contestant in the Huron County PC race. Ken Campbell, a well-known McKillop Township businessman and farmer, announced his intention to run for the Huron PC nomination this past Friday. The nominations closed on Monday at 8 p.n ., and the Huron Progressive Conservatives will gather at Central Hui m Secon- dary School tonight, August 8, to choose their party leader. No stranger to the political scene, Ken Campbell has been an active member of the Progressive Conservative party for the past 20 years and acted as campaign manager for MP Murray Cardiff during his 1980, 1984 and 1988 terms. Mr. Campbell also served as the President of the provincial PC party from April 1988 until the present, but was obliged to give up his post when he announced his intention to run for the Huron nomination. This is the first time that Mr. Campbell has run for a County seat, although he notes that the temptation to represent the people has been there before. "The timing has to be right for this sort of thing," he remarks, adding that with youngest son Brad looking after the family's elevator business, "I'll have a little extra time to devote to politics." Ken and wife Joan have also have two older children, Kim and Kevin. New Democrats name Huron will provide full postal retail ser vices and products with the added benefits of longer hours. Formal business hours will be Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, Craig explained that the way the Tea Room operates, sometimes opening earlier or staying open longer, postal services will be available. "Any hours that they are open," he said, "the outlet will operate as well." Also on August 7, the General t1ivery Service will be adjusted to group service at a site adjacent to the Tea Room. The 'community postal identity, or postal code, will not be changed. Nor will the new service affect rural mail delivery in any way, Craig assured. Bundle up a Glad bouquet The April showers and May flowers have come and gone, and June 'busted out all over a couple of months ago now, but it's not too late to pick up some fresh flowers and help out a good cause, at the same time. The Huron -Perth -Bruce Epilepsy Foundation will be hosting their annual "Olad Days" again in August, with proceeds from the Gladiola sales going to the Epilepsy Foundation. On August 16, 17 and 18, volunteers will be selling bunches of the blooms on Seaforth's Main Si Claire Eckert, the local co-ordinator for the effort, says that the prices for this year are not yet available, but that they shouldn't be too far off from last year's prices of $3.50 per bunch or $6 for two. SAY A LITTLE PRAYER, do a little dance and shout a few words of encouragement, and that silly lawn bowling ball might just do what you want it do. Seaforth bowler Edna Bell eggs on partner Tom Phillips' shot at Sunday's Lome Dale Toumament on the Seaforth greens, while Edna Hoffman of the London Elmwood club looks on. Elliott photo. Fire spotted by airplane Seaforth firefighters responded to a call August 2 at the property of Ross Oordon, Lot 21 Conn. 6, McKillop. A tractor had started fire and caused $1,000 damage to the tractor. Mr. Gordon was having dinner when pilot Ken Campbell noticed the burning tractor from his airplane. When Mr. Gordon noticed the fire he began using a fire extinguisher from his barn to put out the fire. Mr. Campbell and some other men arrived with fire extinguishers and the fire was almost put out when the Seaforth Fire Department firefighters arrived. Since the fire extinguishers were almost empty the firefighters left one with Mr. Ross. Chief George Garrick said the fire in the older tractor may have been caused by "the battery shorting out" The tractor was in a wheatfield, but the wheat didn't catch fire. "It's good that we were called immediately," said Chief Garrick. "Any later the fire may have got out of control.' arty leader at August 1 meetin DEKXR V1 Paul Klopp speaks to supporters following his acclamation to lead the Huron NDP in the upcoming provincial election Seated beside Mr Kiopp is his campaign manager Tony McOuail The meeting was held in Clinton on August 1 (Paul Rudan photo) BY PAUL RUDAN CLINTON - Paul Klopp will represent the Huron New Democratic Party (NDP) in their quest to unseat the Liberals in the upcoming provincial election. Mr. Klopp was acclaimed as the next NDP challenger at the party's nomination meeting, held at Clin- ton's Central Huron Secondary School on August 1. "We have only one way to go but up -- and we're fed upl" he told a small group of supporters. Mr. Klopp is optimistic of his party's chances in the election. He said that the achilles heel of Premier David Peterson and the Liberals is the fact they let word of the election leak out before the announcement The government, he said, also has a poor record regard to the landfill site problems, an unfair tax system and high interest rites. "Give out leans to farmers at a decent rage (of interest)," stated Mr. Kopp. He added that the Peterson government has little respect for Ontario's arming communities. As an example, he cited Mr. Peterson's cabinet shuffle which saw Huron MPP Jack Riddell, a Liberal, lose his post as Minister of Agriculture. Mr. Riddell was replaced by Timiskaming MPP David Ramsev. "I'm not the best for the job, but i'll carry the flag for you people. But People have supported me. They ve come up to me on the streets and said, 'Paul, you've earthed our vote,'" Mr. Klopp said. "We've lost that feeling to stand up and fight. But in a democracy you just have to walk into an election booth and mark your X." Following Mr. Klopp's speech, the audience heard from Guyana - born John Rodriguez, the long- time NDP MP for the Nickel Belt riding. He began by saying he is need for the longest speech ever recorded in the history of Par- liament. A speech, he said, which broke Wilfred Laurier's record. "We have to wort together to build a better society -- a just society," Mr. Rodriguez staled "What you are doing is very im- portant work because you're crusaders." Mr. Rodriguez then went into a long attack against the Peterson government and Brian Mulmney's Conservative federal government. He charged that both governments are the same because they fail to keep their promises. He also claimed that the Ontario premier is holding an election so soon because of the Patricia Starr scandal. She is accused of direc- ting unauthorized funds to the Ontario Liberal Party. Mr. Rodriguez suggested the election is timed so that Patricia Starr won't "sing" until after the elec- tion, when her trial is held. "Some cabinet members are going to fall," predicted Mr. Rodriguez. "I never got a free refrigerator all the years I was in Ottawa." Mr. Rodriguez concluded by quoting former federal NDP leader tephen Lewis. "Am I my brother's and sister's keeper? The answer is always yes. Together we can look after all our rte."