The Rural Voice, 1981-01, Page 39eauee eoe 4ccdecie
Bruce Federation holds annual
The new executive of the Bruce Federation. selected at the
organization's annual meeting. are [from left] John
McCauley. 2nd Vice-president. Borden Fenton. who was
acclaimed for a second term as president and Harold
Poechman, back for a second term as 1st Vice.
[Photo by Shoveller]
The two main issues to which the Bruce County Federation of
Agriculture will direct its attention over the next year are foreign
absentee ownership and energy, according to Borden Fenton,
federation president.
Fenton made the comment after he had been returned by
acclamation as president of the organization, at the Bruce
Federation's annual meeting in December. This, is his second
term as president.
Fenton said the absentee ownership issue is a "big issue
everywhere." He explained he had recently returned from a trip
'through the western provinces where he discovered all four,
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia are
encountering the problem in varying degrees. He noted of the
four Saskatchewan "has a hold on it", but added even they still
face complications in protecting their land.
He stressed farm organizations must pressure the Ontario
government to take action to protect the province's farmland.
"I believe we (the Bruce Federation and the OFA) can do as
much as anybody and have a say in this matter," he said.
The president added the primary concern is with absentee
owners and not with foreign farmers who buy with the intenti on
of settling.
The other members of the 1981 Bruce Federation executive
chosen at the meeting were Harold Poechman, who was returned
as 1st vice-president and John McCauley, who defeated Wayne
Robertson for 2nd vice-president in the only contested race at the
meeting.
The guest speaker for the evening was Johannes Jarvalt, a
lawyer with the OFA. Jarvalt, who first graduated from the
University of Toronto with an engineering degree before
studying law, joined the federation six months ago.
In his brief address, the OFA lawyer outlined some of the
central provisions in the new provincial trespass act before
opening the floor to questions.
TRESPASS LAWS
One problem Jarvalt explained was when "no hunting" signs
are posted, potential trespassers assume other activities are
permitted. "The safest thing to do is put up signs with permitted
activities on them," he said.
When property is enclosed by a fence, unless there are gates,
or if fields are cultivated, it is not necessary to post signs, he
added. It is a visitors responsibility to know permission is needed
to use the land, and "ignorance of the law is no defense,"
Jarvalt said. "Even if the land is not fenced, if it is used for crop,
a person should know ."
He continued if an owner knows a person on his land doesn't
belong, the safest course of action is to call the police.
"The problem is the police don't realize the act has been
amended," he added.
Jarvalt cautioned owners who might consider court action to
recover damages caused by trespassers.
"If you are successful in court, the judge has the power to
assess damage up to $1000," he said. If the damages are
greater, and the injured party wishes to pursue it with a civil
suit, however, the complainant must refuse the judge's award.
Once the original settlement is accepted, the landowner waives
his right to further court action.
Following the guest speakers address the four Bruce County
directors gave brief reports on the recent OFA convention in
Toronto.
Director Albert Simpson told the audience one of the themes of
the convention was the politics of agriculture. "All of the things
politicians do affect your living," he said. "Politics affects you
more in farming than you like to think."
The next director's report was given by Brian Ireland. He
noted the OFA target of a five per cent increase in membership
in 1980 had been met, and the same goal was set for 1981.
The third director, Wayne Robertson continued on the politics
of agriculture topic and urged farmers to be willing to sacrifice
some of their time to defend their interests.
"It's going to cut into some of our time," he said. "There's
going to be a provincial election in the spring. The only doggone
way you're going to get anything out of the election is if we as
individuals get out there and listen to the politicians vying for our
votes. It's our own livelihood we're talking about here."
The final director to speak, John McCauley, explained there
was concern at the convention that government programs need
upgrading. He mentioned a proper marketing set-up for the
province and a policy on the food processing industries as
examples.
"We feel if we can get a commitment from the government
for a food policy, the province can progress. Other provinces
have them," he added.
Two newly elected county presidents, Bessie Saunders of Grey
and Gerry Fortune of Huron, represented their federations at the
meeting.
"It looks like Huron and Grey are leading the way with lady
presidents. I think it's a good thing," said Fenton, thanking the
presidents for attending.
THE RURAL VOICE/JANUARY 1981 PG. 39