The Rural Voice, 1989-05, Page 82HURON
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 April Members' Meeting,
Wednesday, April 5, 1989:
President Chris Palmer welcomed
everyone to the meeting. The minutes
were passed on a motion by Paul Klopp,
seconding by Allan Willits. Carried.
Correspondence: letter from
County Council informing us to ap-
proach them again next year with our
request for a county grant before their
budget is made up; as well it would be
under the condition that individual
townships did not give us grants.
Doug Garniss reported briefly from
the OFA March Board of Directors
meeting. The OFA had requested
$26,000 from the Ontario Cattlemen for
membership in the OFA. The OCA
offered $10,000 and was refused their
membership on the basis that it would
not be fair to the Egg Producers, who
pay $21,000, and the Pork Producers,
who pay $26,000.
Two resolutions passed:
WHEREAS the legibility of slow-
moving vehicle signs on trucks remains
unclear and whereas the grey area is left
to interpretation for the MTC officer
because the ministry doesn't have a
clear picture of this law,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
that OFA aid the MTC in developing a
law that is clearly defined and under-
stood by both parties.
Moved by Chris Palmer, seconded
by Larry Plaetzer. Carried.
WHEREAS pesticide containers are
becoming a problem for farmers and for
township landfill sites to dispose of
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
that OFA lobby for returnable pesticide
containers.
Moved by Chris Palmer, seconded
by Walter Elliott. Carried.
The speaker for the evening, Cecil
Bradley, research manager of the OFA
who spoke about GATT and interna-
tional trade, was introduced by Doug
Gamiss.
Farmers have a right to know the
80 THE RURAL VOICE
At the HCFA members' meeting in April, Cecil Bradley, OFA research manager,
explains the OFA position on the GATT negotiations.
"bottom line" of the federal govern-
ment's negotiations through the Gen-
eral Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
The OFA supports Canada's participa-
tion in the negotiations to improve
market access and eliminate trade -dis-
torting subsidies, but has some ques-
tions for the government.
What is the object of GATT: to
relieve pressure on govemment treasur-
ies? to lower costs and bring wider
selection for consumers? to reduce
support for farmers? to deliver food
more efficiently?
The political rhetoric is that the
government is going to get rid of subsi-
dies but support agriculture. The issue is
"bad" subsidies versus "good" support.
The Canadian government must tell
farmers what it is offering in bargaining
to gain an agreement. There is a tremen-
dous amount of uncertainty in the agri-
cultural business.
There is a danger that agriculture
may be harmed by GATT. For example,
pork producers have spent too much
time over the countervail of pork into the
U.S. Or, should they say to the Ontario
government, "Maybe we should drop
the property tax rebate" because it is a
"subsidy" the U.S. holds against us?
How does supply management function
without an import control list? If the
government has a way of doing this,
they should let the farmers know how
and ease their anxieties. When and if the
GATT settlement is reached, there will
be winners and losers.
Mr. Bradley was thanked by Bob
Down of the HCFA executive and pre-
sented with some maple syrup.
Coffee and doughnuts followed,
compliments of East Wawanosh Town-
ship.0
Your farm parts supplier
Dealers in Huron County
HAROLD PECK
Varna —
233-9997/263-5867
ALVIN BECKER
R1, Dashwood —
237-3239