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The Rural Voice, 1998-10, Page 28100 STEEL s4 c<•tp 0‘4‘ • Beams • Pipe • Angle Iron • Channel • Sheet • Flat • Tubing • TV Towers Owen Sound 1399 2nd Ave. East Phone (519) 371-8111 Fax(519) 371-6011 1-800-567-7412 i WE ARE A STEEL SERVICE CENTRE 24 THE RURAL VOICE this one when almost drought -like. conditions have taken their toll on the apple crop, growers with their own storage facilities will take in their neighbour's apples, said Gardner. "But in a good year they only have room for their own harvest," he said. Hummel refused to discuss the specifics of the appeals launched by Gardner and a handful of other Georgian Bay area apple growers, but said the rules on classification of storage facilities will be applied across the province. But Gardner, a member of the Ontario Apple Commission, says that even within the Meaford area some apple growers have hadn't had their apple storage reclassified. And he's not heard complaints about huge tax hikes from growers elsewhere in the province. "So obviously it's not being applied fairly," he said. Robert Taylor, an apple grower who is a part owner of a large apple storage facility near Meaford where area growers store their product, said the tax hike will filter down as an increased cost to the consumer. "Growers can't absorb this kind of tax increase," he said. Dave Older is a dairy farmer with Oxford County and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture's expert on tax appeals. He met with Gardner and several other Georgian Bay apple growers to discuss strategy. He told them the new assessments are "very broad" and "full of ambiguities" and have the potential for "very adverse effects." Older is hoping "an error in assessment" will be determined at that meeting, but in the meantime recommends all the growers affected launch appeals as soon as possible. Grey -Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch said he believes that an assessment error has been made because apple storages are clearly agricultural. "They are storing their crop, you can't get a clearer agricultural use than that," said Murdoch. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, Bob Segiun met with officials from the finance minister to discuss the matter in late August but it will be a few weeks before things are sorted out, said Murdoch.0 l GREY ANTI -FREEZE... UNDERCOATING...Sunoco BRUCE LUBRICANTS FALL SPECIALS Gas & Diesel Compatible Safe for aluminum blocks -40 winter/summer coolant only $6.99 per jug 4 x 4 litres Sunkote Dripless Handyman Special 4 litres only 9 2.99 20 Titre pail $38.00 15W40 12 x 1 9 8.80 case 10W3012x1 97.80 ATF Dexron 3 12 x 1 98.99 GREY BRUCE LUBRICANTS 519-422-2925 100 STEEL s4 c<•tp 0‘4‘ • Beams • Pipe • Angle Iron • Channel • Sheet • Flat • Tubing • TV Towers Owen Sound 1399 2nd Ave. East Phone (519) 371-8111 Fax(519) 371-6011 1-800-567-7412 i WE ARE A STEEL SERVICE CENTRE 24 THE RURAL VOICE this one when almost drought -like. conditions have taken their toll on the apple crop, growers with their own storage facilities will take in their neighbour's apples, said Gardner. "But in a good year they only have room for their own harvest," he said. Hummel refused to discuss the specifics of the appeals launched by Gardner and a handful of other Georgian Bay area apple growers, but said the rules on classification of storage facilities will be applied across the province. But Gardner, a member of the Ontario Apple Commission, says that even within the Meaford area some apple growers have hadn't had their apple storage reclassified. And he's not heard complaints about huge tax hikes from growers elsewhere in the province. "So obviously it's not being applied fairly," he said. Robert Taylor, an apple grower who is a part owner of a large apple storage facility near Meaford where area growers store their product, said the tax hike will filter down as an increased cost to the consumer. "Growers can't absorb this kind of tax increase," he said. Dave Older is a dairy farmer with Oxford County and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture's expert on tax appeals. He met with Gardner and several other Georgian Bay apple growers to discuss strategy. He told them the new assessments are "very broad" and "full of ambiguities" and have the potential for "very adverse effects." Older is hoping "an error in assessment" will be determined at that meeting, but in the meantime recommends all the growers affected launch appeals as soon as possible. Grey -Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch said he believes that an assessment error has been made because apple storages are clearly agricultural. "They are storing their crop, you can't get a clearer agricultural use than that," said Murdoch. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, Bob Segiun met with officials from the finance minister to discuss the matter in late August but it will be a few weeks before things are sorted out, said Murdoch.0 l