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The Rural Voice, 1988-06, Page 93BRUCE 446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9 519-364-3050 County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER 'The Rural Voice n provided to Bruce County federation members by the BCFA. BCFA APRIL MEETING SUMMARY The April meeting held in Chesley was somewhat disappointing and yet hopeful in terms of input for change. The new OFA signs are now avail- able free of charge and can be picked up at the office. A report from regional directors included the disgusting news about beef also being dropped from the Grenville Resolution. Our OFA has turned chicken! A resolution put forward by the Ontario Chicken Producers Marketing Board concerned with free trade was carried. A sales -tax refund process resolu- tion was passed. The Farm Finance Committee's pro- posed resolution to broaden the Credit Unions' lending ability was carried. A low profile is being kept in regard to the Federation joining forces with the Federation of Labour. The OFA board is asking for sugges- tions on how to reduce convention ex- penses. Some ideas were exchanged and discussed. Also discussed was the fact that agriculture minister Jack Riddell mis- quoted the new funding proposal for the OFA as being mandatory. The check- off is refundable as well! The appropri- ate action was taken. Gus Mitges invited the BCFA and GCFA to meet Mr. Wise in Tara on May 5. Several volunteers were recruited. Byron Monk was thanked for a splendid job on the Chesley Agri -Fair. The winner of the fire extinguisher was Dave McCready. New materials are needed for the display booth. The Farm Labour Pool has been changed to Agricultural Employment Services. The local chairman is Ted Taylor and vice-chairman is Case Van- derham. Pauline Donaldson is Walkerton's assistant manager. The Public Relations Committee plans a new approach to the Rural Voice page. This new form has already been tried for two issues. It is hoped that controversial issues will spark re- sponse; however, there has been none to date. Mr. Cardiff, Mr. Elston, and Mr. Gurbin will be invited to speak to the board. A resolution carried unanimously and read as follows: Be it resolved that the OFA have no more guest speakers at the directors' meeting and allot this time to discussion of the real issues. Meeting adjoumed.0 Gerald Poechman OPINION THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE As North Americans we are very proud of the democratic way in which we govern ourselves. We complacently look down on the totalitarian regimes of South America, or even the one-party communist -bloc countries of Eastern Europe. With an air of superiority we tell ourselves that we have representa- tive government, a system in which the voice of the people is supreme. But just how "representative" are the governing bodies we elect? Is the 94 THE RURAL VOICE voice of the people really being heard and respected? Anyone who looks closely at the murky world of party politics on the provincial or national level would have some hesitation an- swering these questions affirmatively. In the everyday power struggles, deal- ings, and manipulations that are part and parcel of top-level decision-making, the voice of the people probably ranks well down on the list of priorities. A good illustration is the federal government's plan to spend $8 billion of new money on nuclear submarines to play tag with the Americans in the Arc- tic Ocean. That's more than just pocket change for a scheme that many people vehemently oppose and the rest couldn't give one damn diddly about. Do you know anyone who is yearning for nu- clear subs with a maple leaf? But let's look closer to home, for example, at our Federation of Agriculture in Bruce County. The dozen or so people who form the policy of the BCFA represent 1,100 paid members and many more non-member farmers. Do we know or care whether their objectives coincide with ours? How hard do we try to com- municate with the silent majority? Some take the position that those who don't come to meetings and speak their minds don't deserve to be counted. But surely this is the attitude that turns elected officials into virtual dictators. It is not good enough simply to become elected and then act on what we think is best. As democratically elected leaders, the federation directors must know the sentiments of the farm population and then use their own judgement to act in the best interests of all. Until this prin- ciple is effective at the county level we can never expect the voice of the people to be heard in Queen's Park or on Parlia- ment Hill.O Respectfully submitted, Bruce County Federation Public Relations Committee Note: Each month this page will contain an item of opinion on some current farm issue. We would like to know what YOU think. If your opinion differs from the one you have read here, or if you support our view, call the office at 364-3050.