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The Citizen, 2005-10-27, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2005. Panel debates farm organizations’future By Keith Roulson Citizen publisher Are Ontario's farm leaders being too polite or is it counterproductive to be confrontational when dealing with government? That was the crux of questioning ot a panel of speakers looking into the future of farm organizations at the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s annual meeting, Oct. 20 in Holmesville. The panel was made up of Murray Gaunt, former farm director at CKNX radio and television and a long-time member of provincial parliament; Bob Down, former president of the Ontario Corn Producers Association and chair of the Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council; Jim McIntosh. representing supply managed commodities; Paul Mistele, v ice-president of Ontario Federation of Agriculture and Ian McKillop. president of the Ontario Cattlemen's Association. After each made an opening statement, the mood turned with public questioning when anger and frustration spilled out. Questioners Ken Scott and Bev Hill both said farm leaders need to be more radical. But Mistele. defended leaders, saying they have to be professional and stay on message and deliver an iron­ clad case behind closed doors. He questioned the effectiveness of demonstrations. recalling being caught in a cab drivers’ protest at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. “I was angry with them." he remembers. "1 was not in favour of whatever their message was.” But Hill argued lobbying doesn’t seem to be working anymore and said Buzz Hargrove of the Canadian Autoworkers doesn't mind not being liked. “Until we get over this ’nice guy’ attitude wc won’t win," Hill said. “I'm looking for a farm organization that will inspire me.” he said. “Paul (Mistele). OFA is not doing it!" “If there is going to be a future for my sons (in farming) we need more.” Hill added. "Paul, it’s up to OFA to provide more.” Mistele said OFA can only do so much on its own and the key to getting action is farmers being united. During the height of the BSE crisis, (“the worst economic crisis in history”) there was a call for a protest on Parliament Hill and only 1,000 farmers showed up. he said. When OFA puts out the call for farmer action to support the “Farmers Feed Cities” campaign. Mistele said, farmers can’t find any excuse not to take part. “Don't sit back and slack (off) and expect a few people at the top to do all the work." McKillop agreed that grassroots farmers must be involved. “It’s not the leadership that sets direction (for farm organizations). Wc take direction directly from the grassroots producers al our producer meetings. Quite often the representation (at those meeiings) at the grassroots level is pathetic.” The lack of action on the 2002 Odyssey Report calling for greater unity among farm organizations was raised by Gaunt in his address and picked up again by Hill who wondered why things haven’t moved further. Gaunt noted that in the 1960s Challenge of Abundance report the need for a single General Farm Organization had been noted and the Odyssey Report again called for creation of an umbrella group under which all other groups could operate. "It seems the view on some people’s parts is that the organization is more important than the industry,” Gaunt said, reminding the audience that a people united can never be defeated while a people divided can never win. Down agreed with Gaunt bemoaning the fact that when it comes down to the nitty- gritty of protecting their funding, farm organizations that had pledged co-operation find themselves divided. Down said farmers are envious of Quebec’s L’Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA) but this is a group that speaks for all farmers in the province. Groups may have “bloody debates behind closed doors but they all stick together in public,” he said. “Most people I know up and down the concessions want one voice,” Down said. Mistele said OFA is pulling commodity groups together to deliver a united message. “We’re working very hard on the single voice, single message.” • And Mistele denied leaders are not putting the best interests of the farm industry first. “I will not put my interest above farmers’ issues,” he said. “I run into far more people working for farm IAN MCKILLOP ‘Grassroots farmers must be involved’ organizations who do not put their interests ahead of farm interests.” The only resolution passed by the meeting called on OFA" to work to create an umbrella group under which all farm organizations could unite. Speaking to the resolution Bob Hallam said “if we fragment we give government what it wants. We can have differences but let’s stand together.” Rare election held at annual HCFA meeting There was a rare sight at the Huron County Federation of Agriculture's annual meeting in Holmesville, Oct. 20. A vote to fill positions. In recent years positions have generally been filled by acclamation from a nominating committee report. But there was not one. but two. votes for the OFA regional director and delegates to convention for Huron West, the region covering the former townships of Ashfield, Colbome, Goderich, Hullett. and East and West Wawanosh. Walter Stalenhoef of RR2, \uburn. the current regional director, fought off challenges by Richard Miller of Hullett and Bruce Bergsma of Londesborough to continue in the post. In the election for delegates to convention from the region. Nick Whyte of Seaforth, Neil Vincent of Belgrave, and Bersgma were named winners with Steven Thompson of Clinton as alternate. Miller was the unsuccessful condidate. In other regions, Ken Scott was acclaimed as regional director from Huron East. Delegates to convention are Steve Webster of Blytli and Will Stafford of Gorrie. Marilyn Broadfoot was acclaimed are regional director for Huron South. Delegates to convention are Mike Becker, Paul Klopp and Wayne Hamilton with Pat Down as alternate. Nick Whyte was acclaimed as president of the county federation with Walter Stalenhoef as first vice- president and Ken Scott as second vice-president. The War Amps Whether a child is born missing an arm, or loses a leg in an accident or for medical reasons, The War Amps can help. With programs like Operation Legacy, graduates of the CHAMP Program for child amputees are able to continue the tradition of “amputees helping amputees.” Wv 5-*’ sir’ ■*• r r 't?: W” ? HBHH To see a listing ol our Canadian Military Heritage documentaries, visit our Web site at www.waramps.ca. Documentaries can be borrowed free-of-charge or purchased at cost-recovery prices. To order a pamphlet that lists our Canadian Military Heritage documentaries, contact The War Amps. E-ZEE ACCESS: Tel.: 1-800-250-3030 Fax: 1-800-219-8988 Charitable Registration No.: 13196 9628 RR0001 Double winners It is the largest employe) in the province. And the smallest shop in town. Small business is growing strong in Ontario... Fred, left, and Carol Dutot of Clinton accept the Huron County Federation of Agriculture Award for outstanding contribution to agriculture from Marilyn Broadfoot at the Federation’s annual meeting in Holmesville. The Dutots represented 16 landowners of the Tipperary Line, who took their fight over an underground gas storage site all the way to the Ontario Energy Board, winning new rights for landowners in the recent final judgment (Keith Rouison photo) and Ontario is working hard to keep it that way. By raising the Small Business Income Threshold to $400,000, for instance: this simple tax exemption puts more money back in the hands of small business. And Ontario's 44 Small Business Enterprise Centres provide support to entrepreneurs across the province, every day. What's good for small business is good for all of us. Salute to Small Business 2005 To contact the Small Business Enterprise Centre nearest you, call 1-800-567-2345 or go to www.ontanocanada.com/smallbusiness Paid tor by the Government ot Ontano © Ontario