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The Rural Voice, 1988-07, Page 79BRUCE 446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9 519-364-3050 •{,' Federation ofAgriculture NEWSLETTERThe deRurat Voice is provided to Bruce County 9 County federation members by the BCFA. BCFA MAY MEETING SUMMARY Special guests at the BCFA May meeting were Jim Mulvale and Joachim Ostertag from the Community Network Support Team in Owen Sound. They are submitting a proposal for a grant application to the Health Promo- tion Branch. The person hired would work in concert with programs that offer farm counselling: eg. the Queen's Bush Rural Ministry. The program would enhance net- working — farmer to farmer — and would deal with symptoms. The BCFA voted to support the proposal in prin- ciple and to do what is necessary to get the program initiated. The OFFIRR program was dis- cussed. Program cuts of 60 per cent are unacceptable. This is one program tar- geted to the needy. The program should be a long-term project and abuse by the banks should be stopped. Letters will be sent to Minister Riddell, Treasurer Nixon, and Premier Peterson. Grey -Bruce Farmer's Week was discussed, including new ideas related to format. Night programs and more producer panels may be a possibility. The Public Relations Committee will be conducting an opinion survey and results will be printed here when complete. The BCFA made a grassroots pres- entation to a municipal hearing chaired by Ron Lipsett in Walkerton. Regional government is not wanted by those who attended. The presentation included Sunday shopping, the farm tax rebate, OFFIRR, and the Lines Fences Act. OFA board restructuring was an interesting topic. The BCFA was happy to make recommendations to the OFA on the directors' meetings. A return to monthly meetings was felt to be a posi- tive move, as was maintaining the number of directors. It was felt that the OFA meetings should not allow guest speakers except in direct relation to policy -setting matters, and should stick to OFA issues. Issue discussion seems to have been somewhat limited in past meetings. The BCFA metes again at the end of June.O Gerald Poechman OPINION: THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE CHECKOFF PROPOSAL There has been a joint proposal pre- pared by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. This proposal is for an automatic, multiple-choice, re- fundable checkoff of fees to fund gen- eral farm organizations in Ontario. The primary purpose of the scheme is to better fund general farm organiza- tions in Ontario. The present limitation of finances thwarts these organizations into dealing with short-term bandaid issues. These organizations have a duty 78 THE RURAL VOICE and a desire to do more long-term re- search and policy development. Why support such an idea? The work of these general farm groups benefits all Ontario farmers, not just those paying membership fees. More resources will allow these organizations a better chance to be seen as the legiti- mate spokesmen for farmers. Perhaps the "common good" is more important than the "individual gain" or savings by not paying a membership. Refunds will be available to farmers upon written request. For those who do not choose a specific general farm or- ganization, there will be a fund jointly set up for co-operative activities such as research, education, or charity. The question is: Will this checkoff make general farm organizations stronger as spokesmen or will it just water down the present concentration of effort? Will the organizations become insensitive to grassroots feelings? The intent is just the opposite. Perhaps the challenge will be for the organizations to use the extra funds to do more long-term research and develop- ment for the benefit of all farmers, not only today in Ontario, but also in the future for the "common good" of all farmers everywhere. As individual food producers we are part of the world's many food growers and a policy to our benefit should likewise be of benefit to all farmers, the world over. Perhaps the challenge to work for the common good is tougher than poli- cies to benefit the individual producer or his marketing board. Are our organiza- tions up to the challenge? We' 11 find out if the proposal becomes reality.0 Recnectfully 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 464-3050.