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OFA "°" Bonnett Commentary cut hurts farmers For decades Ontario farmers have been able to go to their municipal councils when it was decided a new municipal drain was needed to handie water from their on-farm tile drainage systems. Funding from the province was available to help cover some of the costs of these projects. This service to the province's agricultur- al community will be disappearing, and the change comes without any consultation or waming to farmers, municipal councils and those in the business of creating or improv- ing municipal drains. OMAF officiais are saying that consulta- tion took place as part of the Ministry of Finance pre-budget submission. Does this mean future pre-budget submissions from OFA will have to list every individual line item in the OMAF budget? The Ontario Federation of Agriculture found out about the termination of the pop- ular infrastructure program when a letter was circulated at an unrelated meeting in Guelph. A few days later, the OMAF invit- ed municipal and drainage officiais to a meeting in Guelph to explain the decision. Cost-cutting appears to have been the sole motivation for the OMAF's move. The program is estimated to cost about $10- million per year, and the ministry chose the Municipal Outlet Drainage program as a quick and easy way to cut that amount from its spending. This decision and the process used to reach and announce it are troublesome for the OFA and the farmers of Ontario - especially so when you consider the gov- emment just announced a $100-million provincial infrastructure program only days before. The Municipal Outlet Drainage program has been a valuable infrastructure program for the province's farmers for many years, allowing them to have efficient outlets for their on-farm tile drainage systems. Working together, the municipal drains and on-farm tile drains have allowed Ontario farmers to become some of the most effi- cient food producers in the world. We understand municipal officiais are struggling with the OMAF decision and what it will mean for their financial deci- sions. Like the OFA, municipal leaders across the province have come to rely on the Municipal Outlet Drainage program to meet an important need of al Ontarians. Now they are left wondering what hap- pened and more importantly, why it hap- pened. The OFA has been in contact with com- modities, countries, members and the media. Because of the critical nature of the program, the OFA is going to the govem- ment asking officials to reconsider and reverse its decision. This decision by the OMAF demon- strates a lack of understanding of the needs of Ontario farmers. Ten million dollars may seem like a relatively small amount from the Province's multi-billion dollar budget, but when it threatens the way faon- ers get their job donc, it's very important to ail in the farming community. Ron Bonnett is president of the Ontario Federation oJAgriculture. Champion Country, Tuesday, August 17, 2004-17 Kilbride kennel club to host all-breed dog show Man's best friend will have a chance to strut its stuff this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. About 500 dogs will appear each day at this weekend's Ail Breed Championship Dog Shows at the Milton Faiir Grmnds on Robert Stre held hv The furry frenzy will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and boosters for bouviers and rottweilers all three days, providing fun for the whole family. Saturday and Sunday. All-breed dog shows will fill the three days, A distinguished panel of international judges including sanction matches for obedience and con- from the United States, the Dominican Republic, SALLINSER' Celebrates Ford Ca da 100 Vear Anniversary BUT T H ESE 20048' ARE PRICEDTO CLEAR 0 @MI