The Rural Voice, 1992-01, Page 39GREY
44610th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
519-364-3050
• The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
FOOD SECURITY RATES TOP PRIORITY
Do Canadians want food security?
Does the Canadian government have the
will to support a Canadian agriculture
sector?
It has been said time after time that
Canadians enjoy some of the safest and
cheapest food of any country in the
world. Without a strong farm sector in
Canada, Canadians would no longer
have control over food safety or price.
The Canadian government seems con-
tent to provide consumers with cheap
food at the expense of the farmer. As
was stated in Grey County's report in the
December Rural Voice, "If the farmer
gave away his product, the consumer
price would scarcely change." The
government can come up with money
for health care, education, transporta-
tion, etc., but when it comes to the most
important commodity — food — they
seem to force the farmer to the bottom of
the ladder.
Should Canadian food security re-
ceive the same priority as health care
and other social programs? Yes. It
requires nothing less than to be top pri-
ority for the Canadian government and
the Canadian consumer.
Preservation of wetlands and wild-
life seem to rate higher than the person
producing food. A healthy and prosper-
ous agriculture sector would lead to
sound environmental practices without
the need for government intervention. It
would be in the farmer's best interest to
adopt such practices.
Farm leaders from the general farm
organizations as well as the commodity
organizations must not only pressure the
government to support this industry but
they must also provide an alternative to
the current way of doing business.
Farmers must receive a fair return for
their products. Government handouts
are not the answer. Farmers must con-
trol their industry based on their agenda
— not on the government agenda. The
govemment of Canada must provide
Canadian farmers with the opportunity
to make a decent living by standing
firmly behind Article 11 of the GATT
and by controlling imports. If the U.S.
continue to have their way, we Canadi-
ans will be controlled by them and be
forced to follow their rules. This is
already happening under the free trade
deal.
The need for preserving the farmer
and his land has never been as urgent as
it is now. Increasing world populations
and the global warming trend (causing
droughts and irregular weather patterns)
require that the Canadian government
make it their number one priority to
secure a Canadian food supply pro-
duced in this country.
The recent insect problem in Califor-
Grey County delegates at the annual OFA convention, November 25 to 27, in
Mississauga. (Photo: Jim Fitzgerald)
nia is a good example of what can hap-
pen if we don't have a Canadian food
industry. Relying on the United States
to feed us could leave us very hungry if
disaster hits. Whom would they choose
to feed first? If our government is con-
tent to let the U.S. feed us, they will have
no control over food supply. This would
also mean less control over pesticide use
and residues in food products.
A healthy agriculture industry
would be the catalyst to turn the Cana-
dian economy around. Farmers could
stay home and leave those jobs for their
urban neighbours. Rural communities
would once again flourish along with
agricultural suppliers and support in-
dustries. One in five jobs in Canada
is related to agriculture; too many to
lose.0
Submitted by George Black
GCFA president
GCFA Directors' Meeting
Thursday, January 23
OMAF Boardroom, Markdale
8:00 p.m.
Members are welcome to attend
26th Annual Grey -Bruce
Farmers' Week
January 2 - 8
Chesley Community Centre
Programs include Dairy, Goat, Swine,
Sheep, Beef, Crops, and Management
Call 364-3050 for more information.
NISA
OATI (Ontario Agricultural Training
Institute) Courses will be held in
Bruce/Grey Counties for anyone in-
terested. Will explain the concepts
and completion of the NISA applica-
tion. Recommended for everyone
who wishes to understand the pro-
gram. Will require registration.
Please call the OFA office at 364-
3050.
JANUARY 1992 35