HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1990-06-27, Page 15THE HURON EXPOSITOR; JUNE. 27, 1990 7
Quebec Farms
from page 2A
had been supporting
marketing boards. Most
importantly, in 1973, the UPA
(Union des Producteurs Agricoles)
became
the one legal voice
fanners, with mandatory check -off
funding putting $170.00 per farmer
to the cause of financing a powerful
lobby group to influence
government decisions. (Compare
Quebec's $170. x 50,000 farmers to
Ontario's $130. x 21,171 farmers in
OFA).
The Parti Quebecois supported
marketing boards, distributed
increased funding through credit
programs, and set up an income
stabilization program after the R.C.
model which guaranteed agricultural
producers an income equal to 70%
of the average industrial wage. The
success of these programs could be
measured 5 years later by the fact
that food production for Quebec's
food need had increased from 34%,.
to 50%, Quebec became Canada's
largest hog producer. with a surplus
of hogs to sell, and had increased
by 190% to gain a 75% self-
sufficiency in feed grains.
In 1981, Quebec gave the highest
per capita support to farms in the
amount of $6,841, compared with
Ontario's $2,280. By 1987 the
provincial government had spent
1/2 billion on agriculture, thus
showing a commitment to rural
Quebec and a recognition of
agriculture's potential as an
economic force. In 1987 the net
farm income had increased to $1.1
billion, up by 10% in one year
without federal grain subsidies.
Towards the end of the 1980's,
with Quebec's share of the national
hog market declining and being
eased
provincial new
ievweeput in placeby
Bourassa to expand the cattle and
grain sectors.
What's my point? Well, rather
than envying them or feeling that
they've always been favoured by
the federal government, why don't
we get off our duffs, and work as
an united farm sector to get the
Ontario provincial government to
recognize the importance of
agriculture to the province and
develop it?
The average Ontario farmer feeds
120 people; Ontario accounts for
40% of Canadian food processing;
Ontario produces $5.5 billion worth
of agricultural produce, the largest
in Canada. There are 72,713
census farms in Ontario and one of
every five jobs in the province
depend on the Agri -food system.
Does yours?
PEOPLE
monainimmemommeammons
Mrs. Harold McCallum and Kenny
McCallum of RR 1 Walton visited
on Thursday with Mr. and Mrs.
Stanley Preszcator at Clinton.
Visitors Sunday with Mr. and Mrs.
Bill Ward and boys were Mrs.
Terry Ward of Monkton, Mr. and
Mrs. Bryan McClure, Amy and
Steven of RR 2 Seaforth, Mr. and
Mrs. Norman Hubley of Seaforth
and Miss Joyce Carter of Blyth. the
occasion was Paul Ward's first
birthday, and Mr. Norman Hubley
also had a birthday.
Mrs. Bernice Corlett of Stratford
visited on Saturday evening with
Mr. and Mrs Harold McCallum.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold McCallum of
RR 1 Walton entertained Mr, and
Mrs. Norman Hubley of Seaforth to
a birthday supper for Norman
Hubley.
BY PAIJ1. RUDAIN
C INTON A building can i
.said that a wheelehatr user cold
.enter a Ntagra Falls restaurant.
made to be accessible for the.
As an example of the tiatiOna
the disabled encounter.Mr. Frank
disabled, but that does not always,
mean the building is usable,• says
barrier -free expert Han Frank,
"The (Btuildutg) Gide says MO*
into. into -- there's alo defmitian gf
Into in the Code.. the litero
meaning -of into is inside the door,"
'Me, Frank told participants at a
recent Barrier -Free Design;
Workshop: He went on to say that
a new building can have ramps and
electric doors, but once a.disabied
person enters'the building there can
be stairs or landings which prevent
the "The Code only talkon from sdthe �g.
,about acces-
sibility, not usability."
Mr. Frank expressed his unhap-
piness with portions of Ontario's
Building Code, but he is hopeful
that amendments will solve some of
the problems the disabled face
evnational standards committees,. A member f several
Frank has been involved with bar-
rier -free design since 1975 and he
sits on the Ontario Advisory Com-
mittee for barrier -free design.
There coutd be a .beautiful view of
the Horseshoe Fails, he said, but the
table is on a raised level with no
means for wheelchair access.
Should. the disabled be forced to sit
at another table without a view, he
asked rketorrcauy.
The and abmblems with tlity were echoed accessibility
usability
of the audience. When you
adisatimbled, you're frustrated all
the ti setting
woman stated.
g up barriers. The
people who are designing (bui-
ldings) haven't Lived in a wheel-
chair."
Testifying to this dilemma,
another woman offered her version
of a home designed for the
disabled. She said there was a
house designed and built to meet
almost every need of a disabled
person. But when the home was
completed, they soon found out
there was no access to the house.
It was impossible," she said. "We
Had to rip out a wall and put in
ramps."
These problems are not unique,
says N.G. Frank. •The disabled have
difficulties entering dogs with
closers; washroom entrances are tqo
w
narro, handrails en ramps . are
spaced too far;apart, ramps, are 190
steep, and theliar goes on. •
Paring a slide presentation on
Huron County buildings, which have
been Made accessible, .a. woman
pointed outthat the present ramp at
the Blyth Festival Theatre is too
steep. Architect John Rutledge
conducted the presentation and he
agreed with the observation.
However, he admitted that when
designing ramps for existing buil-
dings, architects are often bound by
space limitations. He also added
that with the new addition, to the
theatre, a better and more natural
ramp was created.
Another person noted that door
closers Make it almost impossible
for a disabled person to escape a
burning building. Door closers are to prevent the spread of
fire, Mr. Frank stated. He added
that door closers make daily life
difficult for the disabled and the
best solution is electric opening and
closing doors.
Former Bayfield Reeve David
Johnston asked if there is a serious
attempt to amend the building .code
or is it just lip service. Yes,. ;the .
effort is there, replied Mr. Frank.
Another person asked what citizens
can do if a hew building
contravenes the building code. Mr.
Frank informed her to approach the
municipality and their chief buil-
ding official.
Mr. Frank said there are loopholes
in the building code which allow
builders to create new buildings
which are not truly accessible or
washrooms which are difficult to
get to or use. However, the courts
are responsive and will take ap-
propriate action if they find the
access routes and barrier -free struc-
tures are unreasonable, he added.
The workshop was sponsored by
Huron County's Barrier -Free
Workshop Committee. It was held
at Huronview on June 15, as a part
of National Access Awareness
Week -- Integrating Persons with
Disabilities.
Workshop participants also heard
from landscape architect John Sam -
pa on utilizing landscape for easy
accessibility, and a panel discussed
access to funding for building
design and improvement.
The OMPP.
Good news for good drivers.
Ontario has a new, comprehensive auto
insurance system, called the Ontario Motorist
Protection Plan. f ,
The OMPP puts the brakes on increases in
your insurance rates. It speeds up payment of
improved benefits, and extends coverage to some
• people not previously covered. Most claims
will be settled without lawsuits. However,
you still have the right to sue if you are
seriously injured.
The new plan is more than insurance reform.
It will lower costs by improving highway safety
and reducing accidents. Because, in the end,
safe driving is a good way to keep costs down
and prevent injuries.
THE GOOD NEWS.
In recent years, caps have kept insurance rates
in Ontario artificially low, while cost pressures
have continued to mount. Bodily injury claims,
for example, totalled about $1.8 billion in 1988.
Without the Ontario Motorist Protection Plan,
insurance companies would require premium
increases of 30-35 % this year. The OMPP will
hold premium increases this year to only 8 % on
average in urban areas, while average rates
in rural areas will not increase at all.
The OMPP works to keep automobile
insurance affordable.
HOW DOES THE ONTARIO M RIST
PROTECTION PLAN WORK?
Your insurance policy 'will automatically be
converted to the new system by your insurance
company.
Under the OMPP, virtually all your dealings
will be with your own insurance company.
Guaranteed income benefits will be paid to people
injured in an accident, regardless of fault. These
are payments to cover income, medical bills,
death benefits and child care. For the first time,
students, retirees and homemakers are covered.
Compensation will be paid by your insurance
company quickly after your claim is filed.
Should your vehicle be damaged, your
insurance company will pay to repair it if you
are not at fault. You can continue to buy optional
collision coverage to co ver your vehicle if you
are at fault.
To make the system fairer, your insurance
premiums will be based on the cost of repairing
your own car - not the cost of the "average" car
on the road. Someone with a car that is expensive
to repair can expect higher insurance rates.
1
THE NEWS FOR i1 DRIVERS.
Paying benefits regardless of fault does not mean
bad drivers go unpunished.
Fault continues to be used for rating purposes.
Those with good records are rewarded with
preferred rates. Those who cause accidents are
charged higher premiums.
Motorists causing accidents resulting in death
or serious permanent injury are still liable to be
sued for unlimited damages.
As part of the OMPP, over 100 additional
Ontario Provincial Police will patrol our highways.
Traffic fines have been more than doubled.
NOW WHAT?
The Ontario Motorist Protection Plan balances the
need for affordable rates with the requirement
for comprehensive protection. Compensation is
there without the need to go to court. The
premium dollar goes to help those who need it
most - the injured victims.
Your insurance broker or agent has all the
details about the Ontario Motorist Protection Plan.
And you will receive an information brochure with
your premium notice.
The Ontario Motorist
Protection Plan.
Everyone's Protected.
Government
of Ontario