The Rural Voice, 1989-07, Page 101!!
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COMPLETE LINE
OF ANIMAL FEED AND
VETERINARY SUPPLIES
HOG — BROILER — LAYER
TURKEY — BEEF — DAIRY
VEAL — FISH — PET FOODS
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or
1-800-265-3006
8 THE RURAL VOICE
WHERE ARE THE
FARM GROUPS?
It appears that the federations of
agriculture have gone into summer
hibernation. There is no other way to
explain their silence in the face of the
biggest threat to the clout of farmers
since Bill Davis got carried away with
regionalization.
Recently, municipal affairs minis-
ter John Deakin released the report of
the "Consultation Committee on
County Government." Among its 41
recommendations is one that advo-
cates a minimum number of 4,000
people in any municipality.
In addition, the maximum number
of councillors in a county would be
20. Huron County councillors, for
example, would be reduced from 31 to
20. The added work load would im-
pose too great a burden on the unself-
ish people who now govern the county
with little remuneration. Councillors
would soon have to raise their own
wages so they could pay someone to
run their business or farm while they
worked for the common good.
Looking at the north end of Huron
County, Wingham would get at least
an additional township to bring the
new municipality up to the required
4,000. Because the population would
be mainly from Wingham, farmers
would be under -represented. Similar
cases can be envisioned for the areas
around Clinton, Seaforth, and Exeter.
Another case is the village of
Blyth, with its population of about
1,000 — far too small, the restructur-
ing committee found. The logical
combination would be with East and
West Wawanosh and Ashfield
townships. This huge area would be
governed by one council that would be
responsible for the Blyth Festival
Theatre and tourism along Lake
Huron, as well as for rural roads and
fire protection. In this case, most
voters would be rural. Farmers are
generally not very familiar with the
benefits of tourism.
The committee states in its report
that bigger municipalities are more
efficient. But there would be no
saving on salaries as the remaining
councillors would have to become
professional politicians.
Vaguely remembering the disas-
trous imposition of regional govern-
ment by Bill Davis, the report says
that county restructuring is different
from regionalization. It seems,
however, that the only difference is
one of scale. At least the regions left
the townships and villages, with their
unique infrastructure, intact. The new
proposal throws whole counties into
one pot, shakes it, and counts to 4,000.
Huron County has already gone on
record to oppose the 4,000 minimum.
Perth and Grey County officials told
me that such proposals as the 4,000
minimum would probably be rejected.
Grey is also expected to object to a
proposal to insert cities back into the
county structure. The county says it is
not prepared to help pay for the deben-
tures accumulated by Owen Sound.
Bruce County has a committee of
six councillors studying the report.
But the county clerk told me it is not
likely that the controversial 4,000 -
person minimum will be accepted.
The restructuring committee, in
its wisdom, sees that exceptions in
sparsely populated areas must be
made. This may or may not apply to
Rainy River.
Some advice for the federations of
agriculture and the Christian Farmers
Federation: study the recommenda-
tions, and do it fast. Then send letters
of support to county councils that op-
pose some of the draconian proposals
and let the minister hear about it. He
has said that he will initiate action by
July 15. Time has just about run out.0
Adrian Vos, from Huron County, has
contributed to The Rural Voice since
its inception in 1975.