The Rural Voice, 1991-03, Page 62HURON
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0
519-482-9642
* The Rural Voice is provided to all farmers
in Huron County by the HCFA.
ENVIRONMENTAL BILL OF RIGHTS - A PLUS OR A NIGHTMARE?
EBR. What is it? A plus for society
at everyone's cost or a farmers' night-
mare at rural Ontario's cost?
EBR stands for the Environmental
Bill of Rights, a proposed piece of legis-
lation scheduled to be introduced in the
Ontario legislature on May 6, 1991.
Since the announcement of the ap-
pointment of people representing 25
groups to an advisory committee on
December 13, 1990, Ontario's environ-
ment minister has the rural community
scrambling to gain more time for con-
sultation in order that the ramifications
of such legislation can be thoroughly
examined.
The advisory committee, heavily
weighted towards environmental activ-
ists with seven pressure groups repre-
sented, has only the Ontario Federation
of Agriculture (OFA) and the Associa-
tion of Municipalities of Ontario
(AMO) to represent rural Ontario.
Principles under discussion include:
• the public's right to a healthy environ-
ment
• the enforcement of this right through
improved access to the courts and/or
tribunals, including the right to sue pol-
luters
• increased government accountability
for the environment; and greater protec-
tion for employees who "blow the
whistle" on polluting employers
• increased public participation in envi-
ronmental decision-making
Mrs. Grier's statement: "These are
powerful principles with profound im-
plications for the way we live, work, and
govern in Ontario," is indeed true. It is
up to individuals to write letters asking
for more information and more time to
ensure that farmers are truly heard.
Mark your calendar.. .
Keep this date open
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1991
HCFA MEMBERS MEETING
8:30 p.m. Walton Hall
Toplc: County waste management
Representatives from the county waste
management committee will be present
The good news is that Michigan has
had an EBR since 1970, and our OFA
staff is in the process of determining the
impact that this legislation has had on
Michigan farmers. The bad news was in
a brief by Murray Rankin, Professor of
Law, University of Victoria, that sug-
gested that the "EBR should also con-
template regulations like those made
under the federal Fisheries Act by which
a private citizen who initiates an action
that results in a fine may receive one-
half of any penalty imposed."
Farmers are part of a concerned
society, but do we want to be part of a
police state? Do your part now. Write
about your concerns to: The Honourable
Ruth Grier, Minister of the Environ-
ment, 135 St. Clair Avenue West,
Toronto, Ontario. M4V 1P5.
The 1991 HCFA Environment
Committee consists of Bob Down,
Barry Elliott, Ralph Scott, Larry Plaet-
zer, Doug Garniss, James Armstrong,
and Wayne Cantelon.
Finance committee report
Agriculture has been on a roller
coaster ride for years. The financial
committee had such an array of issues to
choose from that they found the list to be
discouraging.
The new Gross Revenue Insurance
Plan (GRIP) looks good on paper. Time
will tell whether farmers can afford to
pay the premiums and/or whether GRIP
will follow in the steps of the white bean
tripartite program, which the federal
government threatens to dismantle.
50th Anniversary
East Wawanosh
Federation of Agriculture
MARCH 7, 1991
11:30 a.m. — Belgrave W.I. Hall
Guest Speaker
ROGER GEORGE
PRESIDENT, OFA
For more information or tickets,
contact: Barry Elliott — 357-1532
before March 1
Input costs pose a big problem for
farmers this spring. It is an interesting
exercise to pencil out all your costs to
grow and harvest a crop. Many of us
would leave the tractor and combine in
the shed if we were honest with our-
selves. Farmers must also restrain
themselves from bidding up land rental
prices.
GATT discussions have been over-
shadowed by the Gulf war, but we must
continue to monitor the situation as
negotiations continue. It is important
that all of us search the papers for reports
of the GATT talks. Supply manage-
ment could be eroded as war news takes
over the front pages.
Environmental issues are also going
to force more financial stress on farming
operations. Manure handling equip-
ment, pesticide storage, and animal
welfare are only three issues that could
be large ticket items. As farmers, we do
not want to shirk our responsibilities on
these issues, but we must be able to
recover our costs from the marketplace.
Agriculture will be a great challenge
for all of us in 1991.
HCFA Financial committee member
Shirley Hazlitt
The HCFA Finance committee con-
sists of Bi11 Wallace, Harry Dougall,
Simon Bleeker, Shirley Hazlitt, Tom
Hayter, John Underwood, Mike On-
drejicka, and Keith Love.O
HCFA
"Members of Parliament" Annual Dinner
Saturday, March 16, 12 noon
Ontario Street Church, Clinton
The Federation of Agriculture
and various commodities and
other groups pertaining to
agriculture will be presenting
briefs to Murray Cardiff, MP, and
Paul Klopp, MPP
Please confirm by March 8 whether you
will be attending the meal. Call 482-
9642 Mondays or Fridays or reply to:
HCFA, Box 429, Clinton, ON NOM 1L0
56 THE RURAL VOICE