The Rural Voice, 2006-12, Page 57Agrilaw
municipal well site – significantly
beyond the 100 metre set -back
called for in the Regulation.
However, the logical extension of
the 'argument made by the
(respondents) and the intervener is
that the Province has implemented
the Walkerton Inquiry
Recommendations by providing
that a farmer can construct a
manure storage facility to collect
the waste from 2,000 hogs – three
quarters of a million gallons per
year – within the length of a
football field from a municipal
well that provides drinking water
to the community. And the local
municipality is powerless to deal
with the situation, even though
they have a thorough and well-
founded study demonstrating that,
given local geological and soil
conditions, contamination seeping
into the soil from a greater
distance than 100 metres will
endanger the municipality's
supply of drinking water. In my
view, such an interpretive result is
absurd and could not have been
intended by the Legislature."
For the present, provisions of
municipal by-laws more restrictive
than provincial regulations with
respect to the siting of intensive
agricultural facilities will be rendered
inoperative under the test prescribed
in the NMA. It would appear that, to
avoid the absurdity of the result noted
by the dissenting judge and
frustration of the Walkerton Inquiry
recommendation, will require
legislative amendment.0
Agrilaw is a syndicated column
produced by the full service London
law firm of Cohen Highley LLP. Paul
G. Vogel, a partner in the firm,
practices in the area of commercial
litigation and environmental law.
Agrilaw is intended to provide
information to farm operators on
topics of interest and importance. The
opinions expressed are not intended
as legal advice. Before acting on any
information contained in this column,
readers should obtain legal advice
with respect to their own particular
circumstances and geographical
area.
AgriTech
Looking for that unique gift
Janice
Becker is a
computer
enthusiast
and
journalist
living near
Walton, ON.
With Christmas just weeks away
and creative ideas sometimes in short
supply, I thought, "What a better gift
for rural folks than prints or photos
depicting the rural lifestyle".
Rural views can be enjoyed
throughout spring, summer and fall,
but those same scenic pleasures may
be in short supply five months of the
year, unless, of course, like myself,
you can also see beauty in the crisp
white snow. Though by no means am
I acquainted with more than just a
few Canadian artists, I do have an
affinity for nature scenery, so I
attempted to locate a few sites that
would offer a nice selection of prints
available as Christmas gifts.
Several of the first sites located
talked about Warhol, Picasso, Dali —
not exactly the feel I was going for.
Finally, I came across a site for Pen-
umbra Press, www.penumbrapress.-
com, located in Manotick, Ontario.
The site featured prints by Canadian
Carl Schaefer, a Hanover -born artist,
who worked with the Group of Seven
and was a co-founder of the Canadian
Group of Painters, following the
demise of the Group of Seven.
Schaefer is best know for his
watercolours and oils of rural life in
and around Hanover, as well as
depictions of Waterloo County and
the Haliburton Highlands, according
to Penumbra Press. His renderings of
images of World War II hang in the
Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
If a single print is not what you are
looking for, the site also offers
collections of smaller drawings in
portfolio form.
Another local artist's work can be
found at www.rogetwitmer.com.
From St. Jacobs, his pastoral scenes
in oil can be purchased on-line or
through his gallery.
If your are familiar with a
particularly artist, a Google search
can also be done to locate their
works. For those that prefer a
different subject in their country
artwork, check out www.art.com and
peruse the farm equipment section.
There are some beautiful posters
of antique farm machinery, trucks
and farm buildings. Some might be a
little "artsy", but would certainly be a
topic of conversation at your next
get-together. The prices are
reasonable and ship within a few
days. (As with any website, check for
security and whether prices are in
U.S. or Canadian dollars.) Also be
aware of print sizes so you know
exactly what you are getting.
As a matter of interest, for those
whose significant other has an
affection for cars, trains, motorcycles,
fire trucks, buses or bikes, art.com
has a selection prints and posters
featuring those as well.
Another site to surf is
www.goodbyecitylife.com, from
Boulter, Ontario. Much of the work
displayed is by Warren Kimble.
There are "primitives" for those with
a preference for that style. The works
offered on this site are definitely for
"country" decor.
The site is a somewhat difficult to
navigate. Search out the Global
Gallery link for great choices of art of
all types.There are also many local
shops and galleries, which provide
shoppers with a wonderful selection
of creations by local artists as well as
prints from other sources. Proprietors
would be more than pleased to help
you select that perfect painting for
youriiving room wall or find a gift
for someone special.
Of course, the very best option of
all is to hire a local photographer to
capture you home and surrounding at
just that perfect time of year. Or
select an artist whose rendering will
be a constant pleasure. Every season
in our rural landscape can be
beautiful, so take this time to find a
depiction of your dream rural setting
or beginning planning ahead so your
very unique and personal paradise
can be exhibited pictorially in your
home for years to come.Contact me
at jlbecker@wightman.ca or through
The Rural Voice office.0
DECEMBER 2006 53