The Rural Voice, 1980-09, Page 13and has had first reading. It has been
referred back to the Agriculture Com-
mittee.
TASK FORCE
Murray Cardiff was also appointed to
a special committee, a Parliamentary
Task Force looking into the feasibility of
a national trading corporation. This
committee meets whether the House is
sitting or not. The seven members will
examine ways in which a national
trading corporation could improve
Canada's export performance, describe
the function it should have and the form
such a company should take. A
consultant has been hired and hearings
will be held across Canada after
September lst. Murray Cardiff is the
only person involved in agriculture
appointed to this special committee.
A PRIME CONCERN
Cardiff says agriculture is a prime
concern in Ottawa.
"Seldom a day goes by," he says,
"that I don't have discussions about
agriculture with someone. It's not
necessarily a public discussion - maybe
at lunchtime, or in my office, or in the
lobby of the House."
Agricultural research, Cardiff says, is
certainly a priority item on his mind.
"I'm not really satisfied with the
levels of research right now," he says,
"especially in the area of plant
production - in the cereal crops.
Marketing boards contribute to re-
search, which is alright because the
government recognizes their concern."
It is hard to pinpoint the percentage
of the research dollar that goes to
agriculture but government funding
provided $117.7 million towards agricul-
ture compared to $280.9 million to the
Dept. of Environment, $127.8 million to
the National Research Council and
$93.2 million to Energy, Mines and
Resources.
"We have to remember that agricul-
ture is food," says Cardiff.
GRASS ROOTS
Keeping in touch with the folks back
home, the "grass roots", is no problem
for Murray Cardiff. He's home every
weekend, talking to a lot of people in
person, on the telephone or at his
constituency office in Brussels. He talks
to individuals and groups; recently, the
Ontario Chicken Producers Marketing
Board held a meeting with him and
brought him up to date on their
industry.
"I've had at least three marketing
boards approach me since I've been in
Ottawa. I often talk to the chairmen of
marketing boards - almost every week -
to get prices - find out how things are
moving - how the crop situation is
perceived by their group.
"I'm living agriculture too. I see
what's going on at my own farm and I
see the crops every week coming home
from London Airport. I feel I'm close to
what's going on."
Murray Cardiff is a great believer in
quietly going about something ---and
getting more.
"Individuals say the squeaking wheel
gets the grease," he says, "but I don't
agree with that. I still maintain, if you
want something, you can go quietly
about it --you don't get something by
making someone angry or upset --every-
one's defensive then.
"Since I went to Ottawa, I have asked
for and got a meeting with the chairman
of Farm Credit. I had some concerns
that had been brought to me. 1 think we
both came to a better understanding by
being on a one to one basis, no holds
barred, no notes taken."
That's how one man, Murray Cardiff
gets a job done for his constituents in
Ottawa.
BILL JARVIS
BY DONNA THIEL
"I wish I could spend more time in
our beautiful county!" says Bill Jarvis,
Member of Parliament for Perth.
Bill Jarvis speaks very seriously of his
county and of his work as a member. It's
a very demanding position and one he
obviously enjoys.
Jarvis sits on many committees and is
the energy critic of the opposition, the
opposite member to energy minister
Marc Lalonde. As critic he has to be on
THE
top of Lalonde's plans and challenge his
ideas. The other committees Jarvis
deals with are pipeline, industry, trade
and commerce, and agriculture and
finance.
Jarvis believes in the federal and
provincial governments. But he says our
system does have some problems, such
as duplication. The British North Amer-
ica Act has served for 113 years, but he
says it could have changes concerning
our environment. For instance, there
was no concern when the BNA Act was
passed originally for off shore resources
or fishing rights.
JARVIS ON THE CONSTITUTION
Jarvis explains his opinion on our
constitution: "The powers should be
relegated to the provinces. This is
because the province is closer to the
people's interests. The federal govern-
ment could manage the economy of the
country."
"Farming has a great influence on
the economy as well as the economy
having a great influence on farming.
Farmers may be a minority group, but
the energy and interest rates affect
them the most. Each time the interest
rates rise so do land prices in Perth,"
says Jarvis.
ENERGY IN FUTURE
Jarvis says, "Perhaps Perth farmers
have not considered the future in
reference to energy. Could a day come
when there will be no diesel fuel? Fuel
supplies are a necessity to keep our
tractors and combines running. Can one
imagine the day when the harvest is
ready and no fuel? A problem of the
future?" he asks.
One way to save fuel would be to have
all towns and cities pipe natural gas to
all homes and industries for heating
purposes. Many steps must be used to
save fuel for the future, the Perth MP
says.
When we hear of consumer concerns,
farmers often think of urban consumers.
But in actual fact, farmers are the
largest consumers. Their purchases
range from food, clothing to cars and
trucks, luxury items to farm machinery.
Farmers buy when times are prosper-
ous and do without in the low profit or
no profit times. They have learned to
save and make repairs and improve-
ments in the good years. The years
when profits are low or nil, savings and
loans help them get through the year.
So the farmer's buying power greatly
affects the income of many store owners
and industries, Jarvis believes.
He says the passing of the Farm
Improvement Loans Act should help the
Perth farmers. It has now received royal
assent for a three year renewal. Any
borrower may have outstanding loan
RURAL VOICE/SEPTEMBER 1980 PG. 11