The Times Advocate, 2005-03-02, Page 44
Exeter Times—Advocate
Wednesday, March 2, 2005
=CNA
Editorial Opinion
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EDITORIAL
Days of rage
on the farm
Farmers from across Ontario will be converging on
Queen's Park this week to convey one message to
the provincial government. Do something to help
us.
The economic numbers are becoming increasingly
grim for the agricultural community trying to find
enough cash to even begin planting crops this spring for
which the profit margins are getting thinner every year.
With a Statistics Canada study projecting Ontario
farmers will lose at least $229 million this year, rally
organizers are estimating at least 7,000 farmers will be
at Queen's Park Wednesday to demand government
acknowledgement of the problem and more support.
With losses growing, the pressure on farmers to find
other sources of income is increasing as evidenced by a
study from 2000 called the Family Farm in Question.
It said only 26 per cent of farm income is coming from
the farm, a drop of almost 50 per cent since the 1960s.
With the increasing pressure and facing near zero
profits, the agricultural sector is looking at more active
methods of dropping attention to its plight, such as high-
way blockades and the protests at Queens Park.
Governments at lower levels have found new ways to
lowering the pressure on farmers such as the decision
by the Huron East council this week.
The council voted to delay farm taxes until September
to free up cash for local farmers to allow them to do
spring planting. The decision will leave an estimated
$836,940 in the local agricultural community. However,
at a cost of $19,000 in lost investment income to the
municipality.
Although the decision is a welcome one, without help
at high levels, Ontario Farmers will continue to be
squeezed by subsidies given to farmers in Europe and
the United States, which will require assistance from
governments at higher levels to deal with.
But whatever the size or outcome or the protest at
Queens Park this week, one thing is certain. The days of
farmers suffering and losing money in silence are over.
Mr Dithers strikes again
Last week saw yet another example of why Prime
Minister Paul Martin has been officially labelled as 'Mr
Dithers' by a leading international magazine.
The Economist had already pinned the label on
Martin, who then confirmed it with his 180 degree turn
on joining the American missile defence plan. Martin
had previously declared himself to be in favour of the
plan, but flip flopped and declared Canada would not be
joining in the plan.
He then turned again and stated he would expect and
insist Canada be consulted on any decisions regarding
Canadian airspace.
While the feasibility of the system remains to be seen,
Martin has once again annoyed our biggest market,
closest neighbour and best friend after pledging to build
the relationship back up after years of neglect, insults
and cheap political theatre.
a MIN0RITY
BUDGET 15 JUST
A QUESTION0F
BALANCE,,. ,
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2005 Distributed b Canadian Artists 5 ndicate Inc
Much ado about nothing
The upcoming wedding of Prince Charles and
Camilla Parker Bowles is really much ado about
nothing.
It's a case of two divorcees deciding to give mar-
riage another shot. He just happens to be the
future King of England while she is his long-time
mistress.
We won't be seeing a repeat of the fairy
tale wedding of Charles and Diana. This
time around it's going to be a civil ceremo-
ny at Windsor town hall. No pomp and cir-
cumstance. Even her majesty Queen
Elizabeth won't be there. Shame!
The Church of England frowns upon
divorcees marrying if their spouses are still
breathing. In this case Camilla's husband
is alive and kicking so there will be no cere-
mony inside the church. Politically, it's the
right move since Charles will be the head of
the Church of England when he takes the
throne.
If you step back and look at this entire sce-
nario, it has the makings of a great soap opera.
An English prince divorces his wife, who dies in a
car crash a year later. He finally hooks up with
his long-time mistress and after a respectable
period, proposes. They can't marry in his church
because of protocol and choose a civil ceremony
instead. His sons will be at his side but his moth-
er, the Queen, will not. Buckingham Palace says
this isn't a snub, but remember, the Queen is the
supreme governor of the Church of England and
her presence would appear to publicy condone the
marriage.
Her Majesty, however, will attend a
church blessing led by the Archbishop of
Cantenbury in the chapel at Windsor
Castle, followed by a reception. After
that, who knows what's next? Maybe
one of the Queen's corgis will grab
Camilla's dress and tug hard enough to
rip it? Perhaps Prince Philip, father of
the groom, will fall asleep during the
wedding toasts? The possibilities are
endless!
The bottom line... Charles and Camilla
are happy and they have a right to be
together. It's a basic need most of us
have, being with the one we love and
sharing our life with that person. Sure this royal
pair has made mistakes in the past, but who has-
n't? It's time to move ahead and face our ever-
changing world. Perhaps it's time for the monar-
chy and the church to do the same.
STEPHANIE
MANDZIUK
CONSIDER
THIS!
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