The Rural Voice, 1980-04, Page 4Letters
to the
Editor
Community spirit suffers
with absentee ownership
On a recent program on CBC on foreign ownership it was
stated foreign owners were no worse than doctors owning farm
land.
We have one Dr. who owns a farm in Ashfield township and it
originally was his wife's uncles farm. They have spent large
sums of money on tiling. buildings. fences. They also take part in
making Ashfield a better community.
For example. when a barn was burned a few years ago they
were at the dance put on by neighbours to help out. Also when
someone's son or daughter gets married. they attend the
wedding and reception adding their support to the community
life in the township.
Where are our absentee foreign owners when this happens?
I am quite sure when the mortgage payment on his taxes are
due he pays them on time, not like one foreign owner that I know
of who at one time was three years in arrears with Farm Credit
Corporation. something he should not have had in the first place.
They also take over second mortgages without asking anyone
about it. Then when the payment is due you have to hire a lawyer
to collect, taking six months to a year.
Last summer when a neighbour and I were checking the
amount of land foreigners had bought in the township 1 received
a call from one of their lawyers saying to keep my nose out of
their business. I, as well as any other person, can go to the
registry office in Goderich and for $1.00 look at the registry on
any property.
The doctor and his family have made this farm something they
are proud of and an asset to the township. The foreign owner's
manager says that if they can't rent the buildings out they wil
tear them all down. Who makes up the lost assessment then?
Sell your farm to foreign absentee buyers if you want to but be
sure you get all the money before you leave.
I don't blame anyone for selling for all the money that they can
get. It is the Government I blame for dragging its feet. They have
made a start to stop foreign owners but do not go far enough.
Why not pass legislation the same as all other provinces in
Canada to stop foreign absentee ownership? It seems to me we
have plenty of young farmers who want to farm today - why not
sell them your farm if you want to sell?
Our forefathers and our farmers today have made Ashfield
what it is today. They have fixed up the farms, they have built
new schools and kept their churches in good repair. They have
helped a great deal with the community spirit in the township.
Let's do our part and keep it that way.
—Vincent Austin,
R.R.3, Goderich
Letters to the editor
are welcome!
PG. 2 THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1980
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