The Rural Voice, 2005-03, Page 9-v
National Farmers Union -Ontario NEWSLE1TER
Ontario Office: R.R. 2, Godfrey, ON KOH 1TO - Phone: 613-273-5545
Email: nfuo@rideau.net Website: www.nfu.ca/on
NFU calls for many voices with one message
With the ongoing difficulties faced
by the farm community across
Ontario, some are focusing on the
"one voice" concept to deal with
government. Others are calling for a
"single message, many voices"
approach. What do,Ontario's farmers
need?
The National Farmers Union has
lots of experience in working in
coalitions with other farm and non-
farm organizations, through our work
to bring about changes to improve the
lives of farm families. Through co-
operative efforts come many voices
and many types of action. Any
success at building a single message
from farmers in Ontario will
assuredly be the result of many
organizations coming together to
listen to, and consult with, each other
and identify common goals. Only
then will the many farm voices come
together to deliver 'a single powerful
message.
In an ongoing effort to position
itself as the voice of Ontario farmers,
the OFA is suggesting that other farm
organizations take a step back and
follow its lead and its choices of
action. Can the OFA carry the needs
of Ontario's farmers forward? For the
past 25 years the OFA has has been
the largest GFO, calling itself as the
voice of agriculture in Ontario. Has
its near monopoly left Ontario's
farmers in better shape?
The Minister of Agriculture and
Food, Steve Peters recently begged
off providing any support to farmers
because there are too many voices
speaking for farmers. Do we want
government to tell us how to speak as
farmers? Is it not the responsibility of
the government to listen to the many
voices and concerns of society and
use those perspectives and input to
arrive at creative solutions?
Because we have many voices and
many organizations speaking for
Ontario farmers, we have an
opportunity to strengthen the single
message going to government on
critical farm issues. Many voices
speaking and acting in many ways on
the same message, makes it more
difficult for governments and the
general public to ignore the message.
It is easier to control, and to ignore,
one voice. There are many more
opportunities for a single message to
be heard and felt when it comes from
many voices.
Any meaningful and long-term
solutions to the ongoing farm income
crisis facing Ontario farmers will
require research and actions to
address the root causes of this crisis,
such as the dysfunctional marketplace
in which farmers continually lose to
the corporate players. We need
policies and solutions that advance
the interests of farm families and
challenge the corporate domination of
farming in Ontario.0
COMING EVENTS
March 5 - NFU Save Our Seeds Rally, Kingston
Public march starting at the Farmers' Market at 12:30 p.m.
Speaker - Pat Mooney at 2:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
Do you know who controls our food? Make the link: join our food chain. For more
information contact Peter Dowling at 613-546-0869 or dowling@sympatico.ca
March 9 - Genetically Modified Food: The Answer to World Hunger and Poverty?
An International panel of farmers and scientists.
7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Congress Centre Salon A/B, Ottawa. An NFU supported event.
March 10 - Grey Local Meeting, Markdale
Call Bev Schenk 519-799-5584 for details.
March 16 - Haldimand/Norfolk/South Oxford Local Meeting
Simcoe Horticultural Centre, 7:30 p.m.
Call Garry Proven 519-842-6532 for more information.
March 23 - Perth/Oxford Local Meeting
Fullarton Hall, Fullarton - 7:30 p.m.
Bring your concerns and ideas for resolutions to go to the NFU Regional Convention.
Call Ann Slater 519-349-2448 or Dave Pullen 519-284-3179 for more information.
April 2 - NFU Regional Convention and AGM
Downie Optimist Hall, St. Paul's, Perth County, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For information on local meetings contact the following:
Bruce Local - Mathilda Andres 519-368-5675 Grey Local - Bev Schenk 519-799-5584
Huron Local - Stephen Miller 519-236-4958 Perth Oxford Local - Ann Slater 519-349-2448
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