The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1990-09-05, Page 44 — THE HURON EXPOSITOR SEPTEMBER S. 1990 Let us bring out your best! UNkSEX tIAIQ DFcSIGNkS by 15 East William St Seoforth, Ontario NOK 1 WO (519) 527-2180 Jeanette Connolly Aopriela Tuckersmith buckles down on ABCA levy increase SY PAULA £LLICh7•T ILe Tuc kern nth Tuwustup Coun- cil Is sending a message back to the Ausablc-Bayfield Conservation Authority Q keep thou levy rales inmost below 5% for 1991. "II we can keep our budget below 5%, then they're going to have w start it too," reunadted Tuck - ersmitht Reeve Bill Cla- (Ausab Hayfield) should sive the w a break, in IUghu of all the vUK al money gang into conservation projects," be furthered, adding that the ABCA could look Imo taking advantage of as many provincial funding programs as possible for their proposed 1991 Councillor Rowena Wallace, reporting back to the council table on die Board's latest meeting, stated that July is traditionally the month when the conservation authorities present their coming year's "wish list" to the Ministry of Natural Resources for funding con - Warms that can cosier up to SS% of the project cat. C'e Wal- lace solid that she had alry�p�osyaled n the ABCA Board that they "cut down their wish lisp", but that this supestvun was defeated. It's remarkably hard to tem down grant money, even if you don't have enough money to cover the tell of the project," she noted. Her suggestion of a motion that the levy only rise by a sot per- centage was then brought back to the TuckersrniIh Council, who passed a motion that a levy increase of 5% or less would be acceptable. "'Ilse purpose of the Conservation Authority is 10 have sorra growth," Councillor Wallace countaed. She indicated that the ABCA board would not be happy with such a small percentage increase. Reeve George Cantelon renundod Councillor Wallace of the controversy surrounding the Authority's heavy 1990 levy hikes, and the protests that carried over well into late spring of this year. The 1%1U levy un Duckeranuth was by a lowering 22% from 1 , although a 9% in ease in the township's a,,c44iticiii base reduced the actual levy increase to 13%. This tallied out to $14,3?8, roughly $5 per pries. The reeve also pointed out that at a recon meeung over the ABCA levy, all but two of the municipal rives present indicated that they did not want to see the Conser- vation Authority going beyond their means for the coming year. "Did that not get back to theap?", be queried. Councilor Wallace was quick to reply. "A lot of our ratepayers are not happy with the school boards g� up 1to hS96. Did IN not get She also pointed out that polls of Canadian citizens reveal that conservation efforts are the number one concern for the majority of Canadians, and that this should be taken into consideration. A levy increase allowance of 5% or less will mot allow any growth, she slid. Also, cwwng back aswill not be as easy decision.lpl you question the department heeds, naturally they feel that dteir projects arc the most unpixtamt." she said. "The attitude is, you have 10 pick up this grant money, or it will go to someone else." Ausable-Bay rfiiteld General Manager and Secay Toro Pr�out, addressing the Council in late April, had explained that the province's procedure for allocating pant money was little more than a luck - of -the -draw and paper -shuffling � , and that the Authority no control over whether a project will be covered by a grant until the eleventh hour. "It's not always possible to pick up the funding and keep the levy at the rate of inflation," Councillor Wallace maintained. Tuckersmith's resolution of a suggested 5% increase to the AB - CA board will now be forwarded to the other member municipalities. Eugene Whelan speaks at agricultural forum HOLMES V ILLE - Despite excellent weather conditions for farming operations, close to 150 people attended Friday's Liberal Agricultural Forum at the Goderich Township Community Centre. Of four panel members, former federal minister of agriculture Eugene Whelan was the most vocal. He started with a question, "How can they sit in Ottawa and watch agriculture go down the drain?" Whelan, who has just returned from the west, said crops there are excellent, but prices are horrendous. Farm income in Saskatchewan is down 23 per cent. He continued "Grain prices MAKE SEAFORTH CO-OP YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR WHITE BEAN DELIVERIES NEW LOCATIO WE NEED AND APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS * Locally owned by farmers 'Friendly, Fast, Efficient Service * Now Total Receiving Capacity of 25,000 Bushels per hour * Fair Grades *Honest Weights NenscuII Distrlct Co-operative Hansell 262-3002 OFFICE 527-0770 Londnsboro (Office) 523-9606 1-600-265-5190 SEAFORTH ELEVATOR 522-1000 Elevator 523-4470 A continue to be very low, but cereal prices int he grocery stores are sky high." On Free Trade Whelan said, "How can the U.S. overlook its trading partner in this agreement? Farmers in Michigan received $40 an out for drought relief and in Canada it was $10 an acre." Whelan, a firm believer in marketing boards, said producers should have some say in what prices they get. He indicated there were elevators in Western Canada filled with buckwheat and buyers can't be found and added, "There isn't .a marketing board for this commodity." He criticized the Chicago Board of Trade saying, "When soybeans should have been $9.50, they were $5.50. Nobody should gamble with food." Whelan added, "The United States FDA is quickly eliminating marketing boards. We have to fight for their retention in Canada. The first one in our country was established for dairy products in 1928 in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia." Former Ontario Minister of Agriculture Jack Riddell reiterated Whelan's convictions on marketing boards saying, "we have to make sure they are not eliminated." Regarding Free Trade Riddell said, "We fought it, but most Conservative ads in favor were sponsored by U.S. firms." Riddell said the general economy pokes challenges for farmers and doesn't expect a real income growth for 1990-91. He said the present Ontario Liberal government introduced 100 new farm programs in the last five years. The current Huron MPP said net income for Canadian farmers has dropped by 16 per cent. He is advocating a National Grains Stabilization Program and a new farm income assistance program. In answering the question HURON SUPERIOR MEMORIALS ESTABLISHED OVER 60 YEARS Serving Clinton sail An of Hume County MICHAEL FALCONER 133 HIGH STREET, CLINTON Bus: 462-9441 Ros.: 482-3664 Even+ing appoinue•nts •vadat$• regarding the need for this week's provincial election, Riddell said, •I wish Brian Mulroney had the guts to call a federal election, so we could let him know how we feel." Current Liberal agriculture critic in Ottawa, MP Ralph Ferguson, said $20 million was leaving Canada annually in interest and dividends under Tory politics. Ferguson pointed out the two - price wheat system results in a loss of $2 a bushel and the end of interest free cash advances for grain were detrimental to Canadian farmers. On the native Canadian crisis in Quebec, Ferguson said, "I have four reservations in my riding and I'm concerned." He continued, "Indians were our original citizens and these people know what is rightfully theirs. We better see that they get it." Ferguson added, "All resource sectors in Canada are in trouble. This election is not just for Ontario. It's for all of Canada. All of our livelihoods are at stake." Huron riding Liberal candidate Jim Fitzgerald pointed out the need for a national agricultural program. He went on to say, "We need a policy to pick up the slack left by the Farm Credit Corporation with loans at affordable interest rates. FCC has become just a collection agency." The local candidate continued, "Huron is the number one producing county in Ontario and many sectors of agriculture are hurting. The federal government is not protecting farmers and appears to be giving up on rural areas? Huron Liberal Association president Joe Hogan of Exeter was chairman for the forum. PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE -ElHuron • i-Juxpositor 44'1 527-0240 HEAT WITH CHEAP CLEAN, LOCAL CORN Using DOVETEC Corn Heaters •Buln by Carroll Buckner who discovered how tO mslc• corn burn. The Original Heater •DOVETEC CORN HEATER. •Produced for several years *Introduced to Canada and Huron County In 1989 •No Smoke •No Chimney *No Creosote •No Chimney Fires •No Insurance Surcharges •Non-polluting emissions - mostly CO, •Vent similar to a clothes dryer *Free standing or fireplace insert NOW INTRODUCING - New High Efficiency Line •DOVETEC SPACE HEATER 60,000 BTU Higher output from same consumption lower priced •DOVETEC CORN FURNACE 100,000 BTU High output from low earn consumption. Easily vented. F Information or Demonstration, Call- R N CORN HEATERS RS ED BAKER 857-9145 427 Griffith St., Lon"on Sol* Factory Authorised Distributor In Huron AGENTS: McOevin Farm Equipment - II$T-4415 or 527-0245 Richard Lobb Auctions. Clinton - 412-7095 J.P. Enterprises. Hensel, - 243-4129 SaIv rda Bros , Londesboro - 442-31041 or 527-1020 $S. the DOVETEC Corn Furnace Operating At The WESTERN FAIR - SEPT. 7-16