The Times Advocate, 2006-08-02, Page 1(519)235-1115
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TIMES -ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
x.25 (includes GST)
Survey results
"not shocking"
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HURON -BRUCE — About 200 people from the
farm community in Huron -Bruce participated in an
agriculture survey designed and distributed by
Huron -Bruce MPP Carol
Mitchell's office.
More surveys are still trickling
into the office but Mitchell says
the majority of the surveys have
been counted for and the picture
is loud and clear of where the
community stands on the agricul-
ture industry.
"Clearly it identifies it is a prob-
lem," says Mitchell.
"The questionaire painted a pic-
ture very clearly," she adds.
When asked if she thinks any of
the overall answers are shocking, Mitchell replies
"No, not shocking."
Some statistics sticking out in the survey include
only 26 per cent of active farmers being under 46
years old; 33 per cent are over 60 years old and 42
per cent are in the 46 to 60 age category.
Written comments stated in the conclusion of the
survey include:
• Some indicated that the traditional family farm
with just 100 to 200 hundred acres cannot support
a viable livelihood and must augment income by
working part time off the farm. In contrast, others
said that if both husband and wife are working off
the farm, it should not be considered a family farm;
• With respect to corporate farms, many said they
have no community conscience, and are totally
motivated by bottom line profits, whereas family
operations have long term commitments to their
communities. Family farms should receive more
support than corporate farms;
• Large corporate farms should receive less assis-
tance;
• There needs to be some way to assist young
farmers to enter the business, acknowledging that
in a majority of cases they will have to start with
smaller operations;
• The majority of written comments indicated that
farmers should carry the main portion of risk for
their operations. But given the variability and large
number of unpredictable factors in farming, there
needed to be an insurance -like mechanism to iron
out the wide swings in income;
• Also, given the degree of farm subsidization in
other competing countries, the government should
See MPP page 2
Carol
Mitchell
Belarussian children head home
A picnic was held last Saturday for the children as part of the Huron
County Chernobyl Organization.The picnic is one of many events held
for the children throughout their six-week stay in Canada. Some of the
children staying in Exeter and area homes are front from IeftAlmira
Nurgaleyeva,Alina Piguleuskaya; middle from left are interpreter Lena
Zaichenko, Natasha Andala, Olga Filinskaya, Luba Kondak,Yana Mirinova
and Arteom Artsiomenka; back from left are Maryna Artsiomenka, Sasha
Tsybouk and Pavel Chaika.(photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — A picnic honouring
the Belarussian children affected by
the 1986 Chernobyl explosion was
held Saturday in Hensall.
The picnic is one of many events
organized for the children and their
host families during their six week
stay in Huron and Bruce counties.
The gatherings allow for the chil-
dren from Belarus and area to
interact with each other.
This year 20 families are partici-
pating in the Huron County
Chernoybl Organization.
The children stay in Canada for a
few weeks to cleanse their systems,
getting their immune systems
healthy again.
Eighteen families are hosting chil-
dren from Gomel, one family is
hosting an interpreter and another
family has helped organize the six-
week stay, ending Monday.
Local families include Exeter fam-
ilies Rob and Barb Oud, Paul and
Virginia Warwick, Scott and Karen
Eveland and Dianne Waun hosting
interpreter Lena Zaichenko.
John McAllister and Patti Down of
Zurich and Dave and Carla Long
and John and Brenda
Branderhorst, both of Hensall, are
also host families.
This was a first time hosting a
child for the Branderhorst family
Brenda and her husband John,
who have five boys, hosted 11 -year-
old Artsion from Kostukovichi.
This was Artsion's second time in
Canada and Brenda says she loved
having him here for the summer.
Brenda says Artsion fit in well
with her sons.
"He's right in the middle. He
always had someone to play with or
hang around."
Brenda says hosting a child has
been a positive experience for her
family and recommends the oppor-
tunity to other families.
Interpreter Zaichenko says this
summer has been successful once
again.
Zaichenko, who has acted as the
interpreter for four summers will
be back again next year.
"Yes, it makes me happy," says
Zaichenko.
"I can't imagine my life without
my second family," adds Zaichenko.
See CHILDREN page 2
MacDougall seeks second council term
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HAY WEST — Bill MacDougall is
running for another term as coun-
cilor of Hay West in the upcoming
November municipal election.
He says several factors need to be
considered when deciding whether
to run again, such as whether you
are doing a good job and what you
have to contribute.
"I've learned a tremendous
amount about how to work with
other council members and get
things through. You really have to
be part of a team in order to
accomplish a lot," he said.
MacDougall said one thing he
would have liked to see get done in
the last term, which he will place a
priority on in the next term if elect-
ed, is bringing the inland and
shoreline communities closer
together.
"That's been a bit frustrating,
we're both here for the long term
and should be better neighbours
than sometimes we are."
But MacDougall said there isn't
much more the municipality can do
as a whole.
"It is up to individual councillors
to decide we are working on behalf
of Bluewater as much as we are
working for our own ratepayers in
our ward."
See MACDOUGALL page 2
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