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Huron Expositor, 2004-03-31, Page 8•• 0-T101 HURON IXPOSITON• MAHON 31, 2004 News Perfect season for maple syrup, festival By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff March's mild temperatures made for a perfect start to the local maple syrup season and for the eighth annual Hibbert United Church Maple Syrup Festival. "We had a very good crowd, we're very pleased with how the festival went," said Mary Ellen Docking, festival committee member. The festival was held on Saturday, March 27 at the Hibbert Ward Shed on Line 180, south of Dublin. "We were hoping that the weather would stay good so that we would have a good turn out again and we did," said Docking. About 500 people enjoyed the festival, which included a horse-drawn wagon tour of the Spring Valley Products maple sugar bush and a demonstration in the sugar shack by owner George Roney. Various vendors were also present. "We certainly get a lot of help for the festival," said Docking of the Hibbert United Church group and other volunteers. She said the local Scouts also assist with the event and a portion of the funds raised are donated to the group. She added that the festival is a major fundraiser for the church to help with its up keep. But Docking said the Sara Campbell photo Ten -month-old Luke Bauer was enjoying the taste of maplesyrup and pancakes his mother, Colleen, fed him at the eighth annual Hibbert United Church Maple Syrup Festival on March 27. festival would not have been a festival without the all -you - can -eat pancake and sausage breakfast. "We wouldn't have a pancake breakfast without the maple syrup," said Docking, thanking its supporter Spring Valley Products who were well prepared for the event. "We're very proud of how things are going this year," said Barb Storey, a Winthrop - area maple syrup producer. "We're ahead of schedule this year and the quality of the maple syrup is great." Storey said they have more than 300 trees tapped this year, which is less than previous years but is due to their other work schedules. "The weather has been good. We're seeing warmer temperatures during the day and freezing temperatures at night," said Storey, adding that the weather is ideal for producing maple syrup. Last year, Storey said winter weather conditions prevented maple syrup producers from tapping trees until mid-March. "Last year was such a disaster. Temperatures were below zero and the trees were still frozen late into the maple syrup season," she said. "No year is ever the _ same. You just don't really know what a normal year is." Trailer park, maple syrup property owrners. see no end to reclassifications By Sora Campbell Expositor Staff Local maple syrup producers and trailer park owners are not convinced the government's recent actions will stop changes being made to their properties for tax purposes. "It's not over yet. We haven't been affected yet. Maybe we still wil, we just don't know," said Barb Storey, a Winthrop -area maple syrup producer. "The retroactive taxes have been suspended for now but we still don't know whether we'll be assessed or not," said Otto Schneider, owner of Woodland Lakes Camp and RV Resort, near Brodhagen. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced last week that the government is addressing the property tax concerns of maple syrup producers who face new classifications as well as the concerns of trailer park owners and occupants who Clean, safe drinking water is up to you. If you serve your community, you have a responsibility to serve your community clean drinking water. Everyone has a stake in clean drinking water. Our families and friends; our clients and customers. Under Ontario's new Drinking Water Systems Regulation, owners of drinking water systems now must comply with strict water quality and operating standards. 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Call 1-800-565-4923 Ontario • are facing new assessments. "We are listening to people's concerns about the importance of consistent and timely application of assessment and classification policies by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)," said Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell, in a press release. "I have heard from trailer park owners in my riding about the hardships that were being caused by the issuance of the 2003 assessments and tax bills at the end of the taxation year," continued Mitchell. "That is why we have taken immediate action to address some of the tax concern." Maple syrup producers faced a change in classification of their facilities from farm to industrial for the 2004 taxation year. The government directed MPAC to suspend further changes. MPAC is a crown corporation and is responsible for assessing the value annually of the 4.2 million properties in the province, providing the information on which property tax bills are based. The government is calling on MPAC , maple syrup producers and representatives of the broader farming community to develop mutually acceptable criteria for deciding what constitutes industrial production of maple syrup. Storey, who has been a maple syrup producer for 21 years, said they already pay a commercial tax on their farm property which has more than 300 trees tapped each year. "It still will affect producers. They're going to close the door and walk away because there's no point of being in business and we already pay enough," said Storey. "It's taking farming away from farmers." Trailer park owners and occupants face retroactive taxation because of changes in assessment that were implemented late in the 2003 taxations year. "It is a relief that we don't have to pay now and we don't have to approach our campers," said Schneider. The government has cancelled those assessments by MPAC, which were issued in November 2003 for trailers in seasonal campgrounds for the 2003 taxation year. "Camp owners were left trying to collect taxes from trailer owners when they weren't even there because the season was over. But our campers are still worried because they want to know whether or not they will be assessed (in 2004)," said Schneider of his 125 seasonal campers. "We are committed to establishing clarity and provincial uniformity in property assessment and classification," stated Mitchell in the press release. "We want to find real solutions by working with Ontarians, not around them." The press release stated the government will continue discussions regarding the assessment of trailers in seasonal parks and ensure trailer park owners are sufficiently advised of future assessments. "I do hope the government keeps its promise and works with the owners to find a solution," said Schneider. "I hope this conflict can be resolved."