The Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-05-16, Page 8'Rr
I••
Page 8—Lu know • Sentinel, Wednesday, May 16, 1979
Rural life eroded by absentee ownership: Couper
•from page 1
more opportunities for working.
The NDP would give private corpora-
tions tax concessions that they need to.
grow, but wpuld also insist they repond to
Canadian priorities.
"The NDP will not permit any company
Canadian or foreign to sell out Canadians
for international profits," says Couper,
"we have to use our natural resources to
create manufacturing jobs -right here in
Canada not someplace else."
ABSENTEE OWNERSHIP
Locally, one or'the major concerns is the
purchase of farm land by foreign interests
who are absentee landlords.
"Not only is the social fabric of rural life
being eroded, but it creates difficulties for
the individual family farm to be maintained
as a viable unit, when land pricessoar to a
level which is impossible for the farmer to
operate an economic operation," states
Couper. The purchase of 'prime land .by
industrial and commercial interests further
removesfoodland which becomes covered
with buildings and asphalt and is not
reversible to growing land again.
The NDP would create legislation to
prevent takeovers of farm land by
corporations and foreigners who do not
intend to live on the farms. The party
would create land banks from which the
individual farmer can lease or purchase
land at reasonable market prices to expand
his operation.
The NDP is also concerned with guar-
anteeing farmers a sufficient return for his
product to cover the real costs of
production and a fair wage for the labour
they put into the production. The NDP
supportsthe orderly marketing of food
products through . the . marketing board
Agriculture less reliant on, government
programs according to Craig
*from page 1
"You can't take part of an animal away
and still have the whole animal," says
Craig, "and it is the same with a country."
AGRICULTURE
Twenty-five per cent of the people in
Canada depend on the agricultural indus-
try for jobs and yet, the industry gets by on
only .1.6 per cent of the national budget.
"It keeps us less reliant on .government
program," says. Craig. "If every industry
' was asefficient, as agriculture the country
would be better off."
Canadian agricultural products are com-
peting on the workd market now and we
cannot isolate ourselves in a vacuum.
"There was .a glut of beef on the
market," says Craig, "but producers
everywhere were having problems."
He believes free trade is healthy but. at
Apply for
drainage
money
The regular; session of
Kinloss Township council on
May 7 made applicatiet to
the Ministry of Transporta-
tion and Communications for
$4,672 supplementary money
towards the township share
of municipal drains:.
Lorne Robinson who is the
'weed inspector was. present
and advised that persons
who own land where noxious
weeds are growing are to .,
have the weeds destroyed by
June 25, 1979.
James King of Tiverton is
to be engaged to repair
approximately 430 feet of
sidewalk in Whitechurch at a
cost of $2,500.
Building permits were ap-
proved for Alvery Hayes for a
car port and Charles Murray
and Fred Page for barns. The
permit for Paul Rickett was
not approved as the building
intended would be in an
environmental' protection
zone.
General accounts of $7,425
and highways for .$13,274
were ordered. paid.
At the special meeting, on
April 11 a building permit
- was approved for John de
Boer for a house and pool. A
motion by couticillors Gibb
and McBride was passed
appointing the reeve as a
committee of one along with
the township solicitor to
approach the Bruce County
Planning Board to redraft
zoning by-law number 16:
the same time, Canada does not want to be
dumped onwith excessive products.
REGIONAL DISPARITY .
Craig says the premierS and Prime
Minister Trudeau are working well togeth-
er. They have negotiated one price system
for oil in the country. The government was
able to get an agreement negotiatedwhich
saved homeowners a considerable amount
of money compared to thea world price for
oil.
The federal government must be a
strong federal system and the provinces
must also be strong provincially, says
Craig.
"There is no great conflict between the
federal and provincial governments across.
the board." The federal government must
continue to negotiate with the provinces
STARTS MAY 16th 22
FRI.'1. SAT. 7:00 8. 9:10 •
SUN.-THURS: 8 P.M. ONLY
Today, onl
a handful of people know , At
'C ina S drom "
yn e me
Soon you will know.
STARTS MAY 23 - 24
"KING OF THE GYPSY'S
and
"GOING SOUTH"
THEATRE
30 THE SQUARE,. TDERICH, 524=7811
program subject tony° without notice.
111
because it does not want regional disparity.
ABSENTEE OWNERSHIP
On the subject of absentee ownership
locally, Craig thinks guidelines are neces-
sary. Purchase of farm land by foreign
investors who have no intention of living
here and farming, the land push prices for
farmland to unrealistic levels. This makes
. it difficult to expand for a young man to
start farming says Craig.
RAIL SERVICE
Craig thinks it would be too costly to
re-establish rail service to this area when
the system has deteriorated as it has. Bus
s
--Itransportation to the smaller villages in the
area would provide easier access for those
who have no method of transportation. It is
also cheaper toservice a bus than a rail
system, he adds.; .
system.
"Present governments, although involv-
ed in the establishment of marketing
boards donot have the same commitment
to them as does the New Democratic
Party," says Couper.
"Marketing boards are in a developing
state and need to be assisted by a
government which believes in the con-
cept"`
Methods of negotiationbetween the
boards, farmers and the industry are
necessary for the successfulfunctioning of
marketing boards and. New Democrats are
committed to such a process.
NUCLEAR. SAFETY
The question of nuclear safety is of
importance in this area says Couper. The
NDP has suggested a moratorium on future
development of nuclear energy until the
public has had an opportunity to become
involved in the decisions • about the
desirability of this kind of power. The party
also suggests more funds be made
available for research into! other energy
forms says Couper.
COST OF LIVING.
The cost of living is very much a Jocal
issue affecting the farmer, the pensioner,
the family and the wage earner according
to Couper. The NDP advocates a Fair
Prices Commission which would investig-
ate products with an unusually high cost
and if necessary roll back ". prices. "We
cannot expect the wage earner to accept a
continuous rise in prices without a similar
rise in .wages,". she points out.
Perform. a
death -defying
acts -'
Reduce if
overweight.
CLIFFORD EVENS conductor
.:-F11...N CONGER
Of The London Symphony Orchestra Series:
FRIDAY,' MAY 25th, 8 P.M.
AT
Goderich District Collegiate
FEATURING THE GDCI CONCERT BAND
Concert includes:
G11nka
Miller
Cable
Dvorak
Overture to Russian and Ludmilia
Au Bord de la Foret
Heritage Suite for. Band and Orchestra
intermission- I •
- Symphony No: 6 --
TICKETSVAILABLE AT THE DOOR
AND AT CAMPBELL'S OF GODERICH
Adults '5.00 Students '2.00
Sponsored byltheGoderich Rotary Club under the patronage of
the Sully' Foundation
'1