Huron Expositor, 2006-08-09, Page 2Page 2 August 9, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
News
Risk management takes central stage at meeting
From Page 1
a "Stats Can -like survey."
So far, said Rowat, preliminary
statistics indicate 56 per cent of
those participating are actively
farming and of those 33 per cent are
over the age of 60 and 75 per cent of
active farmers are over the age of
45.
"That tells you something serious
about farming in Huron -Bruce,"
said Rowat, who also noted only one
respondent is identified as being
under the age of 25.
Rowat also noted 66 per cent of
respondents farm 100 to 1,000 acres
of land, and 46 per cent of partici-
pants show gross sales 'of more than
100,000 in 2005.
One of the top issues for survey
participants, said Rowat, is many
respondents want to see the govern-
ment define what makes a family
farm so when government support
programs are in place, corporations
do not reap the benefits.
The survey also shows 70 per cent
of respondents believe there should
be caps in place for the Canadian
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Local Advisory Committees
• 2 members from the Clinton community
• 1 member from the Seaforth community
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Mary Cardinal, Site Administrator, Seaforth Hospital Site
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Chair, Governance Committee
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46 General Hospital Drive
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Agricultural Income Stabilization
(CAIS) program.
Ailsa Craig producer Steve
Twynstra questioned why the
province is suggesting it gives $300
million in property tax breaks for
farmers as if it is a §upport pro-
gram.
That information, he said, is mis-
leading to the general pub-
lic.
When Mitchell said
the figure is included
to show its value to
Ontarians, Twynstra
reiterated that its
mention was not justi-
fiable.
"It's the same bene-
fits as the money
spent on a GO train
in Mississauga," he
said.
Varna -area farmer
Bev Hill echoed
Twynstra's sentiment.
Hill also questioned
why the householder
was written as if to
suggest farmers are the
only ones benefitting from the road
tax on fuel when there are several
professions reaping its rewards.
Mitchell argued the value from
such ventures must be recognized,
and shown to the public.
"You could use that argument to
say consumers pay less than they
should for food," Twynstra suggest-
ed to Mitchell, noting consumers
pay considerably less than what it
costs to produce meat and produce.
Clinton -area farmer Joe Vermunt
said it is unfair that a number of
foreign-owned farms are benefitting
from government support programs
that are operating while, "it's not
getting to us."
He also pointed out that some of
the questions in the survey are mis-
leading or do not make sense.
"To be quite honest, I refused to
do the questionnaire because I
believe some of the questions were
misleading," noted Vermunt.
Wayne Hamilton, a Varna -area
farmer and an outspoken proponent
of the RMP, asked why the long -
desired support program wasn't
mentioned in the survey.
Mitchell said her constituency
office felt confident survey partici-
pants would write in what they
desired as there "is not a shy one
amongst you."
Hamilton noted too that while the
survey respondents say some sort of
redress for trade injury due to the
U.S Farm Bill is necessary, it is
clear the RMP would help.
Hamilton said Mitchell's spring
survey on budget consultations
revealed support for agriculture
support programs but farmers
"haven't seen too many answers
from the provincial government."
While Mitchell said federal gov-
ernment is necessary for a RMP, she
also agreed more needs to be done.
"I concur, we need to come for-
ward again," she said, disputing
Hamilton's contention that the
province has said trade injury is a
federal problem.
Meanwhile, Rowat noted a num-
ber of survey respondents
oppose farm assistance
of any sort, which
resulted in Hill ques-
tioning how many.
Rowat said four or
five respondents had
"hard views" about
farm support, with
some asking why 10
per cent of farmers
produce the most food.
"Ten per cent pro-
duces 50 per cent of
the crops. Therein lies
the whole problem.
Therein lies the area
we should be address-
ing," said Hill, adding
that same 10 per cent
figure is made up of farm-
ers ages 45 years and up.
Mitchell also found herself
defending plans for an ethanol plant
for Hensall after acknowledging
corn used at the plant could be
shipped from the U.S.
Bev Hill said while it's true the
U.S. ag industry is faring well with
ethanol, the farmers are receiving
government support for following a
policy of growing more corn than is
necessary, which drives prices
down.
The farmer then is compensated
by the -taxpayer for producing more
than is required.
"You have to understand how
something grows," says Hill. "If you
want to strengthen the economy,
water the roots."
Mitchell said plans for the $12.5
million ethanol plant — expected to
create between 60 and 70 jobs —
marks the first time in 12 years a
new business has come to the coun-
ty, and she supports it.
Meanwhile, at the meeting's end,
Hamilton noted most of the farmers
on hand for the session were on
hand to press the MPP for a RMP
rather than discuss the merits of
the study.
When Hamilton asked farmers in
the room how many were there to
express support for RMP, all of
them raised their hands.
, "We have to really give it a hard
look," said Mitchell. "I'm going to
push for a Risk Management
Program, yes."
Mitchell said the results of the
survey, along with written com-
ments, will be sent along to the
offices of the Agriculture Minister;
Premier, and Finance Minister.
give it a really
hard look. I'm
going to push
foraRisk
Management
Program, yes,' -
Huron Bruce MPP
Carol Mitchell