The Rural Voice, 2019-02, Page 64446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
* The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Grey County by the GCFA
Email: grey@ofa.on.ca Website: greyfederation.ca
Grey County Federation
of Agriculture
Farm property tax rates
Any opinion expressed is that of
individual County Directors or
Representatives and may not
necessarily reflect the views of the
Bruce County Federation of
Agriculture or Ontario Federation of
Agriculture.
GCFA is the regional affiliate
(County) organization of the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture (OFA).
GCFA represents the interests of over
1,500 farm families in Grey County.
It was organized in the year 1940 to
do for Agriculture that which cannot
be done by the individual farmer and
to work for economic growth and
sustainability of farms in Grey
County.
• The Farm sector plays an integral
role in the financial, social and
cultural health of the Grey County
Community.
• Farm property tax in Grey County
is on track now to increase by over 70
per cent by 2020 and in some
individual farm cases, the increases
will exceed 100 per cent.
• The increase is unsustainable for
many farm businesses and is giving
Farmers in Grey County pause to
reconsider their commitment to
family farming.
• Grey County Federation of
Agriculture has presented a proposal
to Grey County Councillors that
supports overall County tax revenue
objectives while not shifting the
increase burden to Farmers.
• The proposal is for an adjustment
to the application of tax ratios similar
to that which has been adopted
in a number of Counties across
Ontario where these Councils
have taken a long view which is in
support of a sustainable farming
sector in their County.
• The Government of Ontario has
provided unique legislation that
supports any County’s decision to
make tax ratio adjustments
specifically in support of their farm
sector.
• In 2018 Grey County Council
voted against our proposal, GCFA
feels the decision at Grey County
Council sends a negative message for
the Grey County agriculture sector
generally and to individual farmers
specifically.
• GCFA will continue to advocate
in 2019 on this subject on behalf of
the interests of its Members;
including working with elected
politicians, the public, media and our
Members to drive awareness,
understanding and action.
If this initiative is of interest to
you and you would like more
information, or if you would like to
become more involved, please contact
our office at grey@ofa.on.ca ◊
– Submitted by Hugh Simpson
President GCFA
FEBRUARY 2019 61
73RD ANNUAL PUBLIC SPEAKING
COMPETITION
For the past 73 years, the Grey County Federation of Agriculture (GCFA) has annually
organized, hosted and financially sponsored a public speaking competition for elementary school
children in Grey County schools, Grades 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
We continue to promote and manage the competition because we feel strongly that public
speaking skills are vitally important for our future leaders, many of whom will come from rural
Ontario. Public speaking skills are also necessary in many careers and community service
activities. We feel it is fundamentally important to learn and become comfortable with public
speaking skills while in elementary school. All schools in Grey County are eligible to participate.
SEMI-FINAL AND FINAL COMPETITION SCHEDULE 2019
NORTH GREY SEMI-FINALS
Tuesday, February 26 – 7:00 p.m. (snow date February 28)
Alexandra Community School, Owen Sound
Schools invited: Alexandra Community, Owen Sound; Arran Tara Elementary (Grey County
students); Beaver Valley Community School, Thornbury; Eastridge Community School; Georgian
Bay Community School, Meaford; Hillcrest Elementary School, Owen Sound; Holland
Chatsworth Central School; Keppel-Sarawak, Owen Sound; Notre Dame Catholic School, Owen
Sound; Owen Sound Canadian Reformed School; Riverforest Montessori School, Owen Sound;
Sullivan Community School, Desboro; Timothy Christian, Owen Sound.
SOUTH GREY SEMI-FINALS
Tuesday, February 26 – 7:00 p.m. (snow date February 28)
Spruceridge Community School, Durham
Schools invited: Beavercrest Elementary, Markdale; Dawnview Public, Hanover; Edge Hill
Country School, Durham; Egremont Community School, Holstein; Hanover Heights, Hanover;
Highpoint Community School, Dundalk; Holy Family School, Hanover; John Diefenbaker Senior
School; MacPhail Memorial Elementary, Flesherton; Normanby Community School, Ayton;
Osprey Central, Maxwell; Spruce Ridge Community, Durham; St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s School,
Durham.
FINAL COMPETITION
Tuesday, March 5 – 7:00 p.m. (snow date March 7)
McPhail Community School, Flesherton
Two speakers from each of the two area semi-final competitions, for each age division are
chosen to advance to the finals.
Grey County Federation of Agriculture
DIRECTORS’
MEETINGS 2019
March 14 – 7:00 p.m.
June 20 – 8:00 p.m.
August 15 – 8:00 p.m.
September 19 – 8:00 p.m.
November 14 – 8:00 p.m.
All meetings are held at
Grey Ag Services, Markdale
CURLING BONSPIEL
Saturday, February 16
Markdale Curling Rink
9 and 11 a.m. draws
Meat prizes and a good meal for all
$140/team
For more details contact:
Allen Hughes 519-538-2938 or
Bob Aitcheson 519-378-6488