Huron Expositor, 2006-03-15, Page 6Page 6 March 15, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
-News
Provincial agriculture minister tells farmers $125 million
will help, but acknowledges that federal aid is needed
Cheryl Heath
The Province of Ontario is listen-
ing.
That was the word delivered by
Agriculture Minister Leona
Dombrowsky Tuesday at the joint
Corn, Soybean and Wheat
Conference at the London conven-
tion centre.
Dombrowsky, who had just
unveiled a much -criticized -$125 -
million farm aid package the day.
before, said she realizes grain and
oilseed producers do not think the
$80 million pledged for their sector
is good enough but, she said, federal
assistance is also required.
"The federal government is a level
governmentthat has resources," she
said. "Spring is only two weeks
away and Ontario farmers 'can't.
wait any longer. That is why our
government took action yesterday."
Dombrowsky, who hails from the
rural riding of Tweed, said she has a
great deal of empathy for farmers as
she realizes they are subject to "two
climates" — the meteorological and
the economic.
She said the $80 million
announcement is the first phase of a
multi-year plan with an eye toward
overhauling the contentious joint
provincial -federal Agricultural
Policy Framework (APF) in 2008.
Short-term aid ismeant to stabi-
lize incomes and make strategic
investments In
research, she
said.
Dombrowsky
said the fact that
agriculture
infuses $30 bil-
lion into the
provincial econo-
47:hurch
Services
You are invited to attend these area churches
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit
Jarvis St. Seaforth 527-1522
Rector: The Rev'd Sue Malpus. M. Div
Sunday, March 19th, 2006
Worship at 9:30 am
Thursday, March 16 - Taize Worship at 6pm
Everyone Welcome
Note: Rector's Office Coffee Hours cancelled
Tuesday, March 21
St. James Roman
Catholic Church
Welcomes you
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
527-0142
Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm
Sun. 11:00 am
Fr. Chris Gillespie
Bethel Bible Church
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth 527-0982
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.
Youth Activities Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
B&G Club Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
EVERYONE WELCOME
NORTHSIDE UNITED
CHURCH
54 Goderich St. W.
Rev. John Gould
March 19th, 2006
Worship 11:00 a.m.
Sermon: The Cross Proclaimed
Nursery During Worship
Adult & Teen Bible Discussion
9:30 a.m.
Egmondville
United Church
SUNDAY, MARCH 19th
Worship at 11:00 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m.
Lent III- Guest Minister
Rev. Nick Vandermey
EVERYONE WELCOME
Steve Hildebrand
Lay Pastoral Minister in Training
First Presbyterian
Church
Goderich St. W., Seaforth
Rev. Henry Huberts
Sunday, March 19"'
Worship 11:15 a.m.
Sunday School and Nursery Provided
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH ST. VINCENT de PAUL
81 Mill St. Dublin 29 Nelson St. Mitchell
Father Alan Dufralmont Office 345-2972
Mass Times
St. Patricks St. Vincent de Paul
Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sat. 5:00 p.m. Sun. 9:00 a.m.
Wheelchair Accessible - Everyone Welcome
my each year and 650,000 people
are employed in the sector means:
"We cannot afford to take this sector
for granted."
Dombrowsky said a four -pronged
approach investment, research,
innovation and marketing — must
be heeded.
"Our government is not just here
to provide short-term needs," she
said. "We are in it for the long haul."
She added that she wishes the
public had a better grasp of the
realities of the situation.
"We want to demonstrate that
some notions are all together
wrong," she said. "We must look in
the direction of Ottawa together."
During a short question -and
answer period, Dombrowsky -
while not committing outright to
the 'proposed Risk Management
Program (RMP) — said the province
sees more positives than negatives
in the program.
She said it is clear the Business
Risk Management Program is "not
working" in the APF and she report-
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INFORMATION SESSION:
to be held at:
Goderich: April 4, 2006 4 — 7 pm
Exeter: April 6, 2006 4 — 7 pm
Mitchell: April 12, 2006 4 — 7 pm
Call Dianne Harrison
to register for the Information Session
519.357.4995 ext. 14
2 i Y
ed provincial leaders will be meet-
ing with federal Agriculture
Minister Chuck Strahl later this
month to discuss the best way to
allocate the $500 million committed
to agriculture by the federal govern-
ment.
When asked about Canada's reac-
tion to the U.S. Farm Bill,
Dombrowsky argued it is not sus-
tainable and that, eventually, the
U.S. will pay the price for it. In the
interim, she said it is important for
Canada to invest heavily in
research and marketing.
Doug Eadie, president of the
Ontario Corn Producers'
Association, said it is disappointing
a year has passed without any
movement on the proposed RMP.
Eadie also argued though the
province claims it doesn't have the
money to help, it is the richest
province in the country.
"It is there if there was the politi-
cal will," he said. "The onus still
falls on hep province to take the
leadership."
He added that according to Wayne
Easter's report, both levels of gov-
ernment are entrusted with the
responsibility ofbeing advocates for
agriculture.
"Their primary function is to
advocate for the producers ... not for
the processors not for the retailers,"
he said, adding there has been a
continual slide of attention away
from the producers' interests.
Eadie said it is vital for the gov-
ernment.to understand the base for
agriculture in Ontario is grain and
oilseeds.
Eadie also took time out to praise
the Farmers Feed Cities campaign.
"That's something you can run
with," he said.
And, he said, grassroots cam-
paigns must continue.
"This campaign is going to ramp
up and ramp up steadily and, quite
frankly, it may get dirtier," he said.
"Producers are tired of waiting.
Right now it's a matter of life and
death for producers in this
province."
Head Office Exeter, ON NOM ISI
235-0350 • Est. 1876
Residential
Farm & Commercial
Properties
DIRECTORS & ADJUSTERS
Joe Chaffe, R.R. 5 Mitchell 3489705
Toni Feeney, R.R. 2 Dublin
Larry Gardiner, R.R. 2 Staffs
Jack Hodgert, R.R. 1 Kirkton
Michael O'Shea, R.R. 3 Granton
Morris WiNows, R.R. 2 St. Paul:
345.2947
3452878
2298152
2252600
393.8548
Wayne Maven
Exeter
236.1116
David Moore
Dubin
345.2612
Jason Uniac
Mitchell
3436012
Barb Worden
Staffs
345.2777