The Rural Voice, 2000-05, Page 9Feedback
their machines which must also pass
a grading test. If a machine cannot
control grade it will not be licensed.
This legislation is for the protection
of our farmers and the general public.
To obtain a provincial Class A
drainage certificate, a person must
first work for a licensed contractor to
gain basic knowledge, then attend the
OMAFRA basic drainage courses to
learn the fundamentals of surveying
and the rules of the Ontario Drainage
Guide. All graduates and their
machines are routinely field tested by
an independent OMAFRA inspector.
Just as we do not want unlicensed
drivers on our roads, we should not
have unqualified operators and
equipment in our fields and streams.
We believe this licensing puts
Ontario at the head of the farm
drainage industry in North America.
However, the whole drainage
program could be improved. The
1974 study explains why we need
experienced drainage engineers to
design proper agricultural drains to
protect our soils and water.
But the cuts and savings of the
past decade have led to many bare -
bones drain designs. Modern
engineers know our drains should
provide more protection to our
environment. But installing water,
retention ponds, slowing flows,
protecting the soil, fish and wildlife
are too costly for the rural
communities alone. Everyone
benefits. Everyone should pay.
Down through the years,
governments have assisted farmers to
produce more food through drainage
grants and other incentives. The
incentives often worked, creating
more jobs and prosperity. However it
was society as a whole who benefited
most from these programs. Here in
Canada and especially Ontario, we
enjoy some of the best and lowest
priced food in the world, thanks to
our progressive farmers.
But farmers have carried the rest
of society on their backs for too long.
The time has come to investigate
ways for all of society to contribute
to the cost of protecting our food,
soil, water, and eco -system. Clean
water is important to everyone. Let's
get everyone involved in paying for
an even better'drainage program.
I hope you will take the time to
read the 1974 report by the Select
Committee on Drainage. They
studied all the problems extensively
and I believe the problems are
magnified today.
I hope you and your revi.er
committee can find ways to improve
the present drainage program as it is
too important to all Ontario to be lost.
Thank you for your time.0
— Dean Hodgson, Brigden, ON
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