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The Huron Expositor, 1989-04-05, Page 2020A -- THE 'HURON EXPOSITOR, APRIL 5, 1989 Questions and answers on drought assistance The Canadian Crop Drought Assistance Program (CCDAP) is delivering assistance to farmers who suffered significant crop losses as a result of the 1988 drought. About 120,000 farmers in drought -affected areas have received personalized CCDAP applications. Farmers are filling out and returning these applications. Processing of cheques for interim payments has begun. Interim payments began being mailed the week of March 20. The following are responses to the most frequently asked questions by farmers: Q. Some farmers did not receive their ap- plications until the first week of March. Others still have not received theirs. Why? A. There are three reasons. First, applica- tions for farmers in Ontario and Saskat- chewan were sent out two weeks after Manitoba and Ontario due to a problem in the printing and mailing process. ' Second, farmers whose names and ad- dresses were not in in the program data bank did not automatically receive an ap- plication and were asked to call the toll-free line to obtain one. Finally, some farmers outside designated drought areas who did not receive an ap- plication and wanted to apply for assistance were also asked to call the toll-free number for an application. it is possible that some additional areas may be designated as drought zones when final provincial crop in- surance data is available. Application forms will automatically be distributed to producers in those areas. Completion of an application form does not necessarily mean that a producer is eligible for drought assistance. Q. Are all farmers expected to meet the March 15 deadline for returning applications? A. No. The March 15 date is intended for those farmers who automatically received applications and are eligible for an interim payment. However, the program ad- ministration will accomodate late applica- tions. Nobody will be left out of the program because they didn't receive applications on time, Q. On March 3, drought areas were defined. Some farmers with significant crop losses aren't included in these drought areas. Does this mean they won't get drought assistance'? A. No. The drought areas defined on March 3 are preliminary and are being used for the Soil conservation sustains productivity As farmers prepare for spring planting, Canadians are being urged to appreciate the delicate environmental balance that keeps their land productive. Marking April 10-16 as the fifth annual Na- tional Soil Conservation Week, federal Agriculture Minister Don Mazankowski and Ontario Agriculture and Food Minister Jack Riddell stressed the theme, Soil Conserva- tion is Everybody's Business. "Canadians are concerned abou', en- vironmental proble7.'is like declining soil quality and erosion. and how urban develop- ment ani: industrialization affect the pro- d uc tivi ty ro- ductivity o: iur farmland," Mr. Mazankowski sal The Senate Agriculture Committee's 1989 report, Soil at Risk, notes that erosion, degradation and loss of soil fertility cost Canadian farmers more than $1 billion each ,year. Winds and water carry off millions of tonnes of topsoil each year. Streams, lakes and groundwater are in danger of con- tamination by nitrates and pesticides. "The stakes are particularly high in On- tario because this province contains some of Canada's most fertile farmland with a favorable growing climate," Riddell said. In Ontario, the Soil and Water En- vironmental Enhancement Program (SWEEP) is designed to improve soil and water quality in southwestern Ontario. A media tour of several farms is being organized during Soil Conservation Week to show the perils of erosion and benefits of conservation. "The aim of the province's soil conserva- tion incentives is to reduce losses in farm productivity amounting to a staggering $90 million each year from soil erosion and up to $100 million from soil compaction," Mr. Rid- dell said. Negotiations are underway with each of the provinces on federal -provincial soil con- servation agreements. At least one agree- ment has been signed and others are ex- pected to be announced this spring. The federal and provincial governments co-operate on a wide range of soil conserva- tion projects. Programs tailored for each province are helping to build public awareness of the problem, and gain support for long-term solutions. "Today's farmlands are our children's heritage and we owe it to future generations to be wise stewards of this renewable resource," Mr. Mazankowski said. HCBE Interum payment. They were defined on the basis of preliminary data supplied by pro- vincial crop insurance ro- vincialcropinsurance agencies. There may be adjustments made to the drought zone areas once complete data is available from the provincial crop insurance agencies. Q. Once drought areas are finalized, what happens to farmers who think they should be eligible for assistance but find they are not in a designated drought area? A. Producer Review Committees are being established in each province. They will con- sider these situations. Once final drought areas have been defined, producers who feel they should be eligible for drought assistance but are not, should approach their regional municipality (RM 1 or county. The RM or county can ask a Producer Review Committee to consider their situation. Q. How have interim payment rates been established? A. Interim payment rates are flat acreage payments to farmers in severe and moderate drought areas in the prairies and in severe areas in Ontario on certain crops. These areas were designated using preliminary provincial crop insurance data. Interim payment rates were set as high as possible without a risk of overpayment. Q. How will final payments be calculated? A. Final payments in July will be crop specific acreage payments based on a for- mula which takes into account crop losses from drought, 1988-89 farmgate prices, and the value that crop insurance payments would have provided. Farmers who receiv- ed interim payments will have these payments deducted from their final pay- ment. Q. The CCDAP application says that a farmer must consent to release of farm records for 1989 and the previous six years and, up to two years after the deadline date. Why is this necessary ?? A. This is included in the application so that random audits can be done. It does not mean the records of all CCDAP aplicants will be checked. Random audits are standard pro- cedure in special assistance programs ad- ministered by the federal government. This information will be kept in the strictest confidence. When producers opt to have their five year average seeded acreage compared to their 1988 seeded acreage, the administra- tion may need to review their records for that period in order to verify unseeded acreage claims. The administration may have to review farm records as far back as six years. Agreement to release farm records two years after the deadline provides the CCDAP administration with time to do ran- dom audits. This means releasing informa- tion on 1989 and the six previous years only. This does not apply to 1990 and 1991. • from page 1 According to Mr. Lobb, as of April 3, the secretary of the board had received 209 written protests regarding the transfer. One of the benefits sited by the board for the transfer is that Mr. Wooden would have a shorter drive to work each day. Mr. Lobb stated that this benefit is flaw- ed as the combined mileage of all three principals in question is currently 60 miles, and after the transfers take place, this mileage total 'would increase to 160 miles. Mr. Lobb continued, "Through the press you have informed us that the tranfer of Mr. Wooden serves the larger needs of education within the county. "You (the board) have emphasized that principals are employees of the board and not a particular school, and that the system is more important than the wishes of an individual and the community he serves. "This impersonal approach better suits a large, metropolitan area, where the prin- cipals.are more anonymous and the needs of the system more complex. "Our parents know our principal by his first name and they appreciate that the quality of education within the school, to a large degree, stems from his ability to relate to the community. Has 'the system within this county become so large that it no longer considers the desires of a par- ticular area? If so, then perhaps a change in the system is necessary!" Mr. Lobb went on to state that Mr. Wooden's retirement date seemed to be a major concern of the board. It had previously been stated by Mr. Wooden that he would be retiring in two years. For this reason, the students feel that it is no time to transfer him into a new school. The students' council president then sug- gested that a solution might be to have a two year moratorium on all involuntary transfers so that the matter can be studied and resolved to the satisfaction of both the board of trustees and the teachers involved. In their presentation, the students used a series of videotaped testimonials from fellow students, voicing their opinions on why Mr. Wooden should stay on as principal. The video was closed with a song written by an adult education student who wished to express his appreciation for Mr. Wooden. In closing, Mr. Lobb commented, "The last time this students' council was in this chamber we were sitting in your chairs taking part in a mock board meeting. "This time the situation is real, the deci- sions will be acted upon, and you occupy the seats of authority." Board Response The board responded to the delegation with a previously written, nine -page brief outlining their reasons for upholding the decision to transfer Mr. Wooden. The response was read by John Jewitt, Chairman of the Huron County Board of Education: "When you as student council represen- tatives make decisions, I am sure that the amount of information available to you is greater than that which is available to the student body as a whole. The transfer deci- sions included much private and confiden- tial information, In dealing With decisions that are perplexing, especially involving personnel, I am reminded of a saying that might appropriately describe the board's position: there arb no simple solutions in life; but, there are some intelligent choices. The trustees are convinced that the decision to transfer your principal is an intelligent choice." Mr. Jewitt then focused on the point made by the students regarding Mr. Wooden's,.pian to retire in two years. "Two years are a considerable length of time. They represent 50 per cent of the school life of most secondary school students. We are convinced that a man of your principal's skill and expertise can have a major impact on any school and its students and staff regardless of the time remaining in his career." The chairman then added a second reason why the board feels CHSS is in need of new leadership. "The trustees are pleased to inform you that your school has planned for it a major revitalization pro- ject in the next few years. Millions of dollars could be spent on your building and its facilities." According to Mr. Jewitt, these proposals will include new science labs, visual and performing arts facilities, a modernization of physical education facilites and a new resource centre in the library. "This project requires a significant degree of long range planning over several years; it cannot be completed in one or two years," stated Mr. Jewitt. "Consequently, a principal who will have the time to see this project to its ultimate conclusion is desirable for Central Huron. "I would also like to point out that in your letter to Mr. Wooden that appeared in the Clinton News -Record, March 29, it was stated that your principal was "our voice of protest when the board office decided to take over the new part of our building and not give us space of equal quality." In view of the changes that I have described for your school... the board cannot accept that the focus of opposition emanate from the key administrator whose support is necessary to implement these changes." Mr. Jewitt then informed the students that their new principal would be Jim Moore. Mr. Moore has been an employee of the board for 18 years. He began his teaching career in the History Department of Seaforth District High School in 1971. In 1978 he became the head of the History Department at Central Huron. In 1982 he was appointed as Vice -Principal of Seaforth District High School. Mr. Jewitt then went on to say that the students at CHSS are not the only students in Huron County who have ever felt a sense of loss with the prospect of Mr. Wooden's departure. "Six years ago the students of South Huron felt the same when be was transfer- red to Central Huron. His transfer, then, as now, was a thoughtful decision that was carefully planned and thoroughly discuss- ed. As your principal was needed in Cen- tral Huron six years ago, so, now his skills are required in South Huron. `,`Six years ago, the board made a deci- sion to transfer your principal to Central Huron. You obviously believe that the deci- sion made by the board back then was a good one. If the board had not been in the practice of transferring principals, most of you would never have had the opportunity to meet your current principal. We believe that the decision made by the board this year is also a good one." In his closing remarks, Mr. Jewitt ex- pressed his personal opinion to all those present. "Over the past month there has been far too much energy spent on this issue by ad- ministration, by•members of the teaching profession, by members of the Huron ColultyBoard of Education, and .especially by 'the students in our system. The students' school year is calculated, and rightly so, to be challenging with a.full cur- riculum. It is proper to assume that with all of the energy spent on this issue, it only follows that there is some other area of the curriculum that is being ignored. I feel the board has every right to insist that if this issue continues to occupy so much of the students' time, we must put the good schools in Huron County first and take steps immediately to get this issue behind SPRING SPECIALS Specials In Effect Thursday, Friday, Saturday — While Supplies Last CRUSTY ROLLS DOZ DELICIOUS 8" CHERRY PIE 2 DELUXE CHOCOLATE, BROWNIES I PKG OF 6 .7 DELICIOUS, BANANA OR BLUEBERRY 6 u 1 .99 MUFFINS COOKIE OF THE WEEK OATMEAL DOZ 1 e 4 TASTY NU 24 OZ. 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AFR1i# Et 337-1964 For Your FERTILIZER and CHEMICAL heeds call CARGILL FERTILIZER (formerly Cyanamid Farm Supply) 233-3423 Personal Message from Fl a Chuck Hasson a , the town Eur;, in business to sincerely anniversary opportunity first an this opppatronage I will celebrate my like to take ars for their loyal of Sea forth- 1 would custom nk all my friends and of our busirt p C. tha ear. mainstay f p °f ss. the pasty raphy is the a situp teamp and over photography everything from S, Pe tofic nal Vides aportraits, studio mily Our a e for weddings, u to visit our studio prints and a ver ® We invite Y es for tura to full CO la s. We also have frames special occasions.Jean nook at our displays. soon Chuck and I s Seeing Hasson painting CANDLELIGHT STUDIO OF PHOTOGRAPHY P No 627-1193 1• 55 ,Meir+ S.