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"ore ov LAAaA ' AINE ' ERE Raha I - "WEEKEND STAR" CAAT FIA INTIS NC JZ OANA FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2001 MP says Ottawa should show support for farmers By Heather McCrae The Star Many people in our ociety today don't real- ze where food on the gro- ery shelves comes from. hey don't really under- tand anymore about the ork, effort, investment, apital and labour that oes into the production f that food - and where that food really comes om. Farmers are not only he producers of food, hey are one of the major enerators of wealth in his country. The trouble is, while the farming community is major generator of ealth, they retain at the - farm level very little of for this country, for soci- ety, for themselves and for the farm families. And that's why we have a farm crisis. These were just a few of the opening remarks by Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries & Oceans. Mr. Easter, who represents. the residents of Princes Edward Island, made the - i trip to the 15th annual Blackstock Lions' Club's Farmers' Night, held April oe, Agriculture is "the sec- ond largest primary: and manufacturing industry in Canada. One out of every that wealth they produce ' seven: jobs is directly or THE CORPORATION OF THE Request For Appointment Nutrient Management Committee The Council of the City of Kawartha Lakes wishes to form a Committee to review the topic of nutrient management, and make recommendations to Council on appropriate approaches to nutrient management 1 with the assistance of City Staff, conduct research on input of authorities such as;O.M.F.A.R.A,; as well as | 'relevant interest groups. Applications for membership to the Nutrient 'A Management Committee will first be reviewed by the 4 Agricultural Advisory Board of the City of Kawartha # Lakes. The Board will recommend a short list of eight (8) applicants to be interviewed by Council. Council will select five (5) persons to the Nutrient Management Committee based on: e Knowledge and understanding of nutrient management as it relates to rural/urban issues. e Community involvement e Time availability to commit to the Committee process e Communication skills will have the same liability coverage as members of' any Committee appointed by Council. Application forms are available from the Department of Strategic and Land Use Planning (Joan Harrison, 705-324-9411, Ext. 231), or on the City's web page at www.city.kawarthalakes. on.ca. References for Committee membership shall be provided by applicants. Applications shall be received by the undersigned by no later than May 18, 2001 at 4:30 p.m. Applications may be mailed, faxed, or hand delivered. If interested persons have any questions, please contact the undersigned. Richard Danziger, Director : Department of Strategic and Land Use Planning P.O. Box 9000 26 Francis Street Lindsay, Ontario K9V 5R8 705-324-9411 (Ext 239) rdanziger@city.kawarthalakes.on.ca Members of the Nutrient Management Committee indirectly related to the farm community. Gone are the days of farming in the Dick and Jane era 40 years ago when grandpa 'wore his bibbed coveralls. "Farming has changed. It's a high tech industry," Mr. Easter said. "We've been at the cutting edge of change in terms of research and develop- "ent and production of . new crops." ih thts sectqr. . The agricul- tural' industry has made the investments; provid- ed the innovation, diver- sified © and produced wealth for the country yet farmers' have been rewarded 'withthe lowest 'net farm incomes since the 1930s. "Look at. the eatastion ~~ phe that's 'happening now with hoof and mouth dis- ease in Europe,". ~ Mr. Easter said. "We have to do everything we can to-. 'in the City. The Nutrient Management Committee will; }- J 4 nutrient management issues, seek public comment, "on nutrient management: matters, and obtain the:§™" Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for the riding of Malpeque, Prince by Durham MP Alex Shepherd, left, and local cash-cropper lvan DeJong. | Edward Island and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (centre), was joined at the Blackstock Lions' annual Farmers' Night | » wish to thank all ti articipated, which mac such a success! "avoid the disease from coming to Canada. It's very important to protect the national food supply inthis country." NORTH RIDGE EXCAVATING He also went on to say it's ironic that the current farming crisis in Canada is in large measures caused by a vast surplus, not a poor harvest. "The vast surplus is a manipulated marketplace out there right now. It's manipulated by the big global corporations that have a lot of power." But, the farm crisis doesn't just exist in Canada. It exists around the world, Mr. Easter said. "Yes, they are subsidiz- ing at higher levels in Europe and in the U.S. but you can go to any country in the world and talk to a primary producer and they will tell you they are having difficulties, too." If production shut down tomorrow, how long would we be able to feed this world, he asked. About 28 days. . "That's how much food supply is in the food ""%¢hain. The f8od supply, the . ability to feed the i "world, is at almost its low- Excavating - Gr rading - Site Work - Top Soil - Sand - Gravel - Triple Mix - Septic Systems Call 905-985-8469 est level than it's ever been yet they talk about surpluses," Mr. Easter said. "It's not really about surpluses, but rather how * the market is being man- aged." The Government - of Canada has a responsibil- ity, he said. "It's not enough to just disregard the fact farmers are in trouble. We've got to do more for our agricul- tural producers." In Mr. Easter's view: the federal government has a responsibility to stand by the farm community in its time of need and difficul- ties "We can't let those farmers slide into obliv- ion." And now, it appears Prime Minister Jean Chretien is looking further into the future of farming. "The PM has appoint- ed a task force of which | am a member of" Mr Easter said. "We are going to look into the issue to where we go with agriculture in the future." ofnem) Cleanin : 985-8552 * 3M Scotchguard Ei e Broadloom e Upholstery sg ® | oose Rugs 852-6711 * HEATHER JONES SALES & LEASING REPRESENTATIVE RES. (805) 986-4690 : | aus 320-3533 Fax: (705) 328-2657 IT'S WORTH THE DRIVE UP HWY 35