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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-03-08, Page 8Page 11--Lecknow Sentinel, Wednesday, Mork 8, 1978 Farmers fear tax reform proposal a handout. BY BMA HAMILTON The combined fears. of govern- ment takeover of land in the future and of urban residents viewing the grant system of taxation as handouts to the farmers were not soothed when Peter Hannam, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture spoke to a concerned crowd of over 200 people at the Clinton High School 'February 27 to explain the OFA policy on the property tax reforms being pro- posed by the Ontario govern- ment. • Mr. Hannam and Bill Benson, second vice-president of the Federation, went over the history Of tax reform which started in 1975 with the proposal that government pay 100 percent of the taxes and a lien be put against the land and be payable by the Board cancels CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 trip planned for grave twelve and 1! thirteen students at South Huron. The trip is a week long exchange program With students from Quebec and the Exeter students already have a strong commit- ment to the "Qtlebec students. Cochrane said the students would be attending school in Quebec and would be hosting groups of French-Canadian students back in Exeter on the same program, The board told Cochrane to discuss the matter withthe principal of South Huron and make a decision •based on -that discussion. farmer if the farm is taken out of •productivity in the following, ten years'. • • The Blair report came next and suggested that there were too many uses fortthe tax funds. Blair suggested property tax for land use And people tax fOr people services, A long term tax solution would involve reform in income tax and everything would have to be assessed and re -divided up. This would take years. The municipality would then take a mill rate for the total land declared tax free and submit a bill to the province for the taxes. With this proposal, the farmer is not identified with the -farm land. One cheque ° to each municipality would cut costs, the OFA head said. "Having the land legislated as tax exempt would make it free from being changed by the whim of the government," he said. The farm residence would be taxed just like urban homes with consideration made to ,location and services. "The Rural Ontario Municipal Association assessment depart- ment can produce productive "Until - people services are taken off of property tax there will remain many inequities," said Hannam. The OFA has suggested a short term alternative until that time. The OFA wants the farms assessed on productive value determined by the gate to gate sales. This land (farmlan6 and build- ings) defined as productive would then be legislated as such, and be tax exempt. market value assessment," Bill Benson told the crowd. "Nova Scotia and some of the states have already made farm- lands and buildings exempt," Mr. Benson said. "As long as I pay taxes like every other householder, that' acceptable. Tax exemption is seen as govern- ment and province setting priority iti food policy. To the urban consumer this is acceptable only as long as it doesn't cause a stir on the shelf," Benson point out. The questions from the floor ranged from why the need for tax reform to trespassers being hard_ to take care of. Some people felt there was a thin 1h between a grant and taxes, and felt that in years ahead they would lose ownership of the land. Mr. °Hannam pointed out that the precedence in the courts concerning the payment of taxes is the lowest indicator 'of owner- ship. "Land belongs to whoever is named on the deed," said Hannam. "As to the future, the govern- ment could take over your land tomorrow. We can anticipate all ,kinds of fearful possibilities in ten years time. But who's to say what can happen," Hannam told the crowd. Gerry Ginn; Warden for Huron County, was present to cominent on the need for grant reform so that townships would not be paying more. "The OFA proposal is acceptable to me as a fatiner ,and a council official," said Mr. Ginn. Hobby farmers Were also a subject of concern. The definition of a farmer is anyone producing values for all farms and can be over $2,000 in one year is eligible brought into place as quickly as .for tax rebate. "I don't know what the government has in mind but they should raise 'costs" and have other criteria for determin- ing farms," said Mr. Hannam. "The OFA is using scare tactics on the farmers," said Eileen Palmer, deputy reeve of Goder- ich, who represented the urban resident. "I support the market assessment and feel that the farmers, are Capable of forming a decision and making up their own minds." Merle Gunby summed up what many should be thinking about. "This is the best we have come up with yet. What's the alterna- tive?" said, Mr.. Gunby. "None have , been suggested yet." The OFA needs. to know the impact on the communities and has to date not replied formally to the government. "No more compromising," Abandon well The well drilling operation on the property of Bob Purvis, east of Lucknow, on highway 86, has proved unsuccessful and the well has been plugged and abandon- ed. Dave. Johnson of Shell Canada, London, said on Monday that they were "disappointed" that the drilling had not been successful but they were analyzing the data obtained from the. drilling. Shell had 'drilled to test the Guelph formation and had drilled through the formation but found neither oil nor natural gas. To drill through a Guelph formation in this area would be to a distance of `approximately 1,800 feet. ,,assured Mr. Hannam. "We are open to • the 'direction of our membership." • The Huron County Federation will take a vote at a. later date as to how they support the propos- als. Remember....... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 graduated from various hospitals, and four at least are at present holding positions high in their professiqn. Approximately fifty became teachers - many using this as a stepping stone to other profes- sions, and numerous others hold positions high in . industry and finance. This resume shows that the rigid discipline and rugged child- hood meted out to the earlier generations did not produce the warped personalities so badly feared today. Now the pendulum has swing just as far in the opposite direction and I doubt very much if the rising generation accustomed to being . waited on • and having the centre of the stage and being given handouts and bonuses from the cradle to the grave, will have the stamina to stand up to life as their predecessors did, even with every labour saving deVice. The re- course to unemployment insur- ance, strikes, collective bargain- ing, etc. make their demands a "must" -for shorter hours, more pay, increased social security and services of every kind. How long will the, basic inastries which are the creators of all real wealth - farming, fishing, mining, lumber- ing and manufacturing, be able to carry the load of taxation and be able to sell their products in as world Market? Energy Conservation Centres at Lucknowand Goderich A small conference room in Goderich was the scene last week of daily 8 -hour training sessions' on energy conservation for six industrious area residents: Gerry Zurbrigg, Barb 'Zettler, Pat Niblock, Ian Finlayson, Joe Drennan and Bev Brown. These people are employees of the new Community Conservation Centres at Goderich and Lucknow and their job is to spread the word on how people can save money by becoming energy. conscious in their homes, their cars, at their businesses and on their farms. Guided by the Project Leader, Tony,- McQuail, the group has familiarized themselves with var- ious forms of alternative energy sources and conservation practic- es. They halle, Already gathered together an impressive library of • books such as The Sun Builders, Canada as a Conserver Society, Stop the Five Gallon Flush, Other Homes and Garbage. , The Wood - burners Encyclopedia and dozens of others. These will all be available to the public at the Community Conservation Centres which are located at Goderich (above the Bluewater Cleaners) and at Lucknow (on themain street next to the new Sentinel Office). The official openings for these t entres will be announced in next week's paper. "Although this program is funded for only 7 months under the Federal Labour Intensive Program", says Bev Brown of Turnberry .Township, "the .ac- complishments of this group will be far reaching in the community in terms of education, money. savings and new project k in energy conservation." Gerry Zurbrigg of Goderich commented that "It is amazing how many ways an ordinary homeowner can save money on his fuel, hydro 'and gas bills." Pat Niblock of Auburn announ- ced to the group that "Because of what I have learned this. week during these training sessions, I_ have decided to heat our log house with a wood stove and solar heat rather than the electric baseboard heating which had been recommended." Tony McQuail, well .known for his night school courses on alternate energy sources, spoke for the group when he said: "We are at,a stage when it is no longer appropriate to approach our world as a consumer society. The aim is fo, find 'ways to make a comfort- able transition to a conserver society. Energy conservation of- fers us a bridge to a secure future where we use renewable energy to sustain our society. The Community Conservation Centre can help build,, that bridge." Because the group has been able to find suitable space in both Goderichand Luckhow for Energy Conservation Centres, they now have a problem trying to furnish both locations, as there is no money in the budget to purchase furniture. They would like to appeal to anyone who could loan or give the Centres any of the • following items: chairs Of any description, small or large tables, • stand or table lamps, desks or book shelves and filing cabinets. These items could be returned to the owners at the end of the project in September. If you can , help out, please call the Lucknow Centre at 528-3304. 4"..4 • . . • /1/ , X • • z/4/..- '4,•":;..5.0.•,/ • / • X..1•.:74" // The Community Conservation Centres scheduled to open this month in Lucknow and Goderich will be spreading the word on how people CAM save money by becoming energyxonscious in their homes, cars, at their businesses and on their firms. Training sessions were held in Goderich last week for the employees of the Centres and guided by Project Co-ordinator, Tony ,McQuall of R. R. 1 Lucknow, the group familiarized themselves with various forms of alternative energy sources and conservation practices. Left to right, are Bev Brown, Wingham; Gerry Zurbrigg, Goderich; Tony McQuail, Barb &Wet, Goderich; Joe Drennan,' Goderich; and lan Finlayson, Huron Township