The Rural Voice, 1991-04, Page 84HURON
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.
HCFA MARCH MEMBERS' MEETING
President Brenda McIntosh welcomed
everyone to the meeting on March 7 at 8:30
p.m. at the Walton Hall. 75 were present.
The minutes of the last members' meet-
ing were passed as printed in The Rural
Voice on amotion by Bill Wallace, seconded
by Jeanne Kirkby. Carried.
Brenda announced the GRIP meeting to
be held and sponsored by HCFA March 12,
Tuesday evening, at the Clinton High
School.
Bob Harrison introduced Joanne Rich-
ter, Huron County co-ordinator for the
Huron Waste Management Study, and Den-
nis Merrall, Huron County engineer.
Mr. Merrall invited the Federation to
help inform farmers about what is happening
and give the farming community more input
into the planning process. He said "you'll
have to live with the cost of it." He suggested
the members of the federation help analyze
the thrust on farmers and give input from a
farmer's point of view. He also said he was
sorry the study was moving so slowly, but
there is a six month delay in approval of stage
2A report by the provincial government. He
regretted not being able to give many Grey
township residents a more definite answer
on the location of sites.
The Federation took up a challenge, with
several people at the meeting volunteering to
sit on acommittee to work with the county on
the study. Members of HCFA's environ-
mental committee will be on this committee
as well.
He couldn't prejudge the stage 2B report,
which will be making recommendations on
the systems of waste management, or
whether waste reduction could be employed,
as well as naming possible landfill sites. He
feels there will be a recommendation for re-
cycling in the report. He said also they will
be looking at the composting of kitchen
waste. He said incineration is unlikely be-
cause of the expense of building an incinera-
tor and the small amount of garbage the
county would produce.
One spectator argued in favour of waste
incineration (EFW). The OFA policy does
not include any landfill programs. Would it
be cheaper for Huron to truck its garbage to
another EFW site and pay for the use of it?
OFA president Roger George, who was
also present, said the OFA does have a policy
to avoid landfill sites, and eventually the
elimination of such sites will be possible.
Mr. Merrall said it would cost Huron
approximately $200,000 a month for incin-
eration plus the cost of trucking as there are
no sites in Huron that could accept all the
garbage without holding an environmental
public hearing.
Many lively questions followed the pres-
entation of our guests. Doug Garniss
thanked Joanne and Dennis.
OFA president visits
OFA president George had been in
Huron during the day, starting at CKNX in
the morning, followed by speaking at the
East Wawanosh Federation's fiftieth anni-
versary at noon. From there he participated
in a "kitchen" meeting at the home of John
Underwood at Wingham, at which about 15
farmers were in attendance.
He spoke briefly at the HCFA members'
meeting in the evening, touching on GRIP,
interest rates, the agricultural labour board,
and the Safety Net program.
He said so many farmers are frustrated
and in despair. He has seen fourth generation
farmers on a family farm having to give up,
saying it's very sad and depressing.
Resolutions presented
Two resolutions were presented to the
meeting. The first was from the trade and
MORE ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL
BILL OF RIGHTS
The purpose of an Environmental Bill
of Rights (EBR) is to state clearly and ex-
plicitly that:
1) citizens have a right to a healthy environ-
ment;
2) the government has a duty to protect the
environment from degradation;
3) individuals have the right to sue for public
nuisance in the civil courts if environmental
rights are violated; and
4) individuals have the right to participate in
environmental decisions.
The final point requires the removal of
common law barriers to private prosecution.
For your information: The state of
Michigan has had an EBR since 1970 which
allows any "legal entity" ranging from gov-
ernment agencies to corporations to individ-
ual citizens to sue any other legal entity to
obtain relief from actual or potential "pollu-
tion, impairment or destruction" of the "air,
water, and other natural resources and the
public trust therein." OFA is in the process
of determining the impact this legislation
has had on Michigan farmers.0
finance committee on White Bean Tripartite
Stabilization:
WHEREAS the white bean industry is a $50
million industry of which 80 per cent is ex-
ported, and
WHEREAS farmers have contributed to a
tripartite program since 1987 and a payment
of $8.43/cwt. is warranteed, and
WHEREAS delaying payment will reduce
acreage and put export markets in jeopardy,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OFA
lobby the federal and provincial govern-
ments to honour their commitments in time
for spring planting to go at normal levels.
Moved by Bill Wallace, seconded by Jeanne
Kirkby. Carried. Sent to OFA with president
Roger George.
The second resolution on the Property
Tax Rebate and Stable Funding was moved
by Jeanne Kirkby and seconded by Bill Wal-
lace. After being read, it was decided to refer
this resolution to the executive of HCFA to
be groomed and reworded.
Adjournment: 10:50 p.m.0
MEETING NOTICE
HCFA Members' Meeting
Wednesday, April 10, 1991
Topic:
New Environmental gill of Rights
Speaker:
Dona Stewardson, OFA Executive
Everyone Welcome 8:30 p.m.
Blyth Public School (Auditorium)
ATTENTION
STANLEY TOWNSHIP
FARMERS
A meeting will be held at the Federa-
tion of Agriculture office on Tuesday,
April 9 at 1:00 p.m.... purpose of the
meeting to re -organize Stanley
Township Federation of Agriculture.
Please try to come out to help ... lots
of help means little work for everyone.
(Vanastra office) ... contact Blaine
Stephenson for more information.
565-2109 or 482-9642.
80 THE RURAL VOICE