HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1979-10-25, Page 15More farmland threatened
"Rising out of a field where a year ago ca -t ie grazed is
the centre -Piece of what .has been dubbed Disney World
North: -,. a steel framework that is rapidly being
transformed into a 45 -metre mountain.
Sounds great, doesn't it?
lt's the big amusement park near Maple, Ont., owned
and being built by Family Leisure Centres. • Taft
Broadcasting; Oo„ a U',S,-owned firm, owns 75 per cent oaf'
Family Leisure and the other 25 per cent is owned by Great
West Life Assurance Co,
The big, $106 inillton complex is gabbling up 320 acres:
of prime fartnlanda When the :idea was first promoted, this;
writer was disgusted that the province allowed the
development on some of the best farmland in Ontario,
said, at the time, that the complex'was only a foot in' the
door; that perhaps thousands, of acreswould be desecrated
in a short time.
Now comes worn tnat the same company is completing a
feasability study for a major hotel eppositethis so-called
family Wonderland.
1 hate to say 1 told you• so but I told you so.
No. Correct ;that.I love to say I .told you, so.
I said months ago that the 320 -acres would spreadto at
least 'a thousand before the, thing_ outgrew its novelty
status. Farmland in the area will soon be too expensive to.
be left in crops.
And all for about 200 11 -time job and ma b 2,500 in: •
.fu j �s may..be .
the busy summer months. Sure, it's a goo goOtt, thing, for
students who need summer work. It's a good idea to have a
Disney North in Ontario but why couldn't it have been.
built on land that is. useless? Goodness knows, there's
enough of that land available in the province.
Even the majority of residents in the area were against
the idea. They objected'when it was first proposed in 1973
Open 'to public
Ag history
Historians .to -day empha-
size Canada's urban past, yet
this is a distorted view
according to University of
Guelph professor Terry
Crowley, "Until the 1920's
the majority of Canadians..
lived in rural areas," he •
and fought it right to • the wire because all the land, had to
be rezoned from agriculture to recreation, Both the
Ontario Municipal Board and the Ontario cabinet overruled.
the objections,
It is absolutely clear now that the 320 acres is just a
beginning, Ontario's minister of industry and tourism. s,
"'excited" by the project and the subsequent development
surrounding the project. But Larry Grossman doesn't liv. e
nearby, Nor, to my knowledge, is he a farmer. He doesn't
seem to care that maybe a thousand acres will be affected
before this thing, this growth, runs its course.
Eventually,, it will be just another phoney, smell' -ridden,.
tacky -tacky, tinsel town trying to squeeze every East buck
out of mothers and fathersdesperately coping with too
many fancy leisure spots.
Canada's. Wonderland it will be called.
Canada's Phoneyland would be more descriptive;
The place should be ready to open by the spring of 1981..
Residents of the area have fought a bitter campaign to
prevent it but they lost the battle. It's to behoped that the
war has not been lost. They could' certainly help other
farmers fight to keep good landin produetion in other
areas of the province, •
But it's a tough, battle.. Look at the figures: Wonderland
is spending $106 million to build the thingOffcials are
hoping for a first-year attendance ot2.3 million.. Senior
governments 'look; long and lovingly at federal and,
provincial taxes expected to total $30 million during the:
first"five years of operation.
It's pretty difficult. for a group of farmers to fight against
$30- million in taxes.
But somebody'sgot to fight for green, growing, things in
this province before all the best farmland is lost to urban
sprawl, ticky-tacky houes, amusement .sparks, plazas,
power corridors and super highways.
meeting S�
explains. "While . rural
people no longer have the.
same demographic ciout or
political: influence, farming;
and rural society in Ontario
are still extremely important
to the province and • the
country."
rmers• ..
We are ready to receive your Fall
orn
We buy, sell, store & custom dry
-Trucking available
A complete line of
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Ltd.
Brussels Walton, Ont. Seaforth
887-9261 527-0527
To encourage wider Ap-
preciation of Ontario's agri-'
cultural roots among..in-
terested' laymerx and his
torians, Professor .Crowley
and his colleague Professor
Ross Irwin organized' a one
day conference in 1976. Now
well established as an airnual
event, . the fourth "Agri,
cultural History of Ontario'`
conference will: be held at the
University. of Guelph, campus,
ott. Saturday, October 27.
A broad range of subjects,
including social. and . -eco-
nomic structures, education
and dress, is covered by this
year's five invited speakers.
Mr: Leonard Harman, form-
er general manager of the
United' Co-operative of Ont-
ario, will speak on ' co-
operatives, which. are histor
u important and remain. a •
major force to -day.. Early
rural. women `s,organizations,
such: as the Women's In
stitute, which played an
important social and political
role will be discussed by Dr.
Margaret MeC " . dy. former
dead of MacdonaTd4pstitute.
Historian Felicity Leung will
Present a •pietorial':look at
flour and grist mills from:'.
1100 to the 1880's.
The-- afternoon -session"_-
features a talk; on nineteenth`.
.century schools' and com4c
munities by the University of
Western Ontari 's. R.D.Gid
ney and W' F. Millar: Kath-.
erine'Brett, curator emeritus
of the Royal ,Ontario ' Mus-
eum. will
us-eum.will :review' the cos-
Minesof rural Ontario.
Information and pre-
registration forms are avail-
able : at local museums and ;
from Continuing, Education,
University of Guelph.
Ontario, NW 2W1, tele-
phone' (519) 824.4120, ext.
3956. Registration fees of
S25. per person and S15. for
We are now ready to receive your
1919 CORN CROP
We w U, also bi thippirig 'Wit Coen to wed up lrntoadirn a chiitlitilr
345-2330 Mai Du itlit Otte* 345.2884Ras.
SY IliSiktfAMTIMON
The Ontario Federation
of Agricultureis only as.
strong as its membership;
Huron mennbers were told by
their newly re-elected
president Merle Gunby
At Huron F of A annuat
meeting Friday evening in;
Brussels, Mr, Gunby pointed
out that membership has
reached a plateau and urged
members to support the
Veep,
Elected back to office with
Mr GurthY. Were Gerry
Fortune as first vice
president. Newly elected
John Van Beers is second
vice president.
Three directors at large
were also elected, Jim
Hunter, Max Demaray and.
Bev Brown. •
Bili Crawford., . HFA
fieidman,gave a report which
indicated a slight decline :in,
membership: Province wide
in .1976 the, membership
stabilized at 23,460. After a.
slight decrease the
f
7,1
projected number of
member ► for 1980' is 23,08,
Mr. !Crawford remarked on
the support he recewes itt the •
field and the amount of work
Membersare doing for the
tornado victims in the
irfoodstoek area.
Oyer ' Huron farmers:
went iota the area .and;
helpedco-ordinate clean
work,Approzimately $14,009
has been raised with
McKillop township one of the
first to complete their
canvassing with over ,$4,00()
collectei;L '
Former director Bill fallen
was presented with a gift of
appreciationfrom: the
federation. Mr. i?ttllen,,
active in the federation ter a
number of years, 'ts moving
from his Morris farm to farcy
County',
Two resolutions were
passed by the members. The
most important concerned
itself with energy supplies
for the farm community, It
was resolved that the Ontario
HUB:,
F of A insure adequate.
supplies of energy supplies
and encourage the
development of programs tet
work nut alternate energy
supplies.
$TOR'
The second resolution
requested the Canadian•:F of
A toestablish a public
relations committee to
present the farm story to the
,general public and
A resolution eoncerning
the use of snorfenClOg IdOng
;r#adways :in rural
_municipalities visa not
passed
SURPRISE . GIFT '13111 Pullen, Morris
Township was . presented With a gift of
appreciation from Huron of Federation of
senior citizens,. will also be Agriculture members .Bev Brown (left) and.,
accepted at the conference. Brenda, McIntosh. Mr.. Pullen. is moving to Grey
Farm business topics
Business agreements
BYMELCHAMBERLAIN, declare income or expenses when
AGRICULTURAL REPRESENTATIVE,, payments are made. As the son makes
WELLINGTON COUNTY payments on the note,he has a current.
You say -a farm business agreement can expense and the father has : a current'
bemade easy? Perhaps: a :misleading income..
statement --but "there are somethings'' you Another idea would be to sett one of the
can do to make it .easier.•; rams to the son. Capital gains can be
Let's . talk about a very common deferred and there is no longer a gift tax to
situation --a farm family wishing to bring a worry about.• Or the son may acquire.
20 year old son into the business. Son has owner -ship of some machinery.
probably, worked for Dad for a year or two 4. Assets should be owned individually.
and received wages. His interest is sincere Father': and son contribute their assets to
and father and son seem to be able to get the business and it is operated as one unit.
along. How do you give son ` more 5. A farm bank account is a must. All.
responsibility.;a share of the income and -income and expenses should go . through
some idea of what the future holds? These the account Your: record keeping will be
points may make it easier:Monthly , advances - also be
1: Talk about .it --as a family, to clarify
the wishes of each other.. Decide if income
is sufficient . for the possibility of two
families. If not, can the farm business be
enlarged to increase the income
sufficiently?
2:: Think about 'a farm business agree.
meet. Keep it simple! Talk ,to your
O.M •A.F. staff, your accountant and, ::form,
lawyer to help you decide what is best for . ; : 8. ReViewthe agreement annually and
you, revise as needed;
drawn from this.:; account for personal
requirements.:.
6. Appoint someone to keep; the records.
and make provision to have other family
members inspect` the records periodically,
7. Divide thenet cash income at the end
of the year as previously agteed upon the
each individual file a separate income tax
3. -Son . will probably -wish to.own-•-
assets--sefl or give him some. A breeding
herd appreciates in value, You can sell son
part ofthe herdand take a demand note
back. He can pay .for. the :livestoClt over a
period of years.Farmers on the cash basis
bulletin entitled "Farm Business
Agreements and Asset Transfer"' is
available from the Ontario Ministry of Agri
culture and Food offices free of.charge. It is
easy to read, and is an excellent reference.
HURON 'FEDERATION ELECTS. EXEC — Merle Gunby, far right, was
re-elected president of Huron's. Federation, of Agriculture at the group's
ennual meeting Friday night in' Brussels. Other executive members•from'.
left are, Max Demaray, director, Gerry Fortune, First Vice -President,
John. Van Beers, Second Vice -President, Bev Brown, Director and Jim
Hunter, Director. (Blyth` Standard Photo}
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