P'Funding announcement gets ,mixed reaction from larmers By ROBIN DOWNTON-POIRIER Special ta The Champion The head of the Halton Federation of Agriculture says the federal government's recent announcement of $1 billion in assistance for farmers is a strong indication that the government is taking the agricultural crisis sert- ously. "The federal assistance is defi- nitely a step in the right direction," said John Opsteen, president of the Halton Federation of Agriculture and a Nassagaweya chicken farmer. "It will help fartners pay some bills and get caught up. It also shows that the govemrment is taking the issue seriously and will work on a long-term so.lution. There's a willingness on their behaîf 10 help." But other local farmers, like Bob Merry, aren't quite s0 optimistic and feel that it's just a short-term solution to a much bigger problem. "'his is just another bandage to guarantee cheap food for the con- sumer for another year," said Mr. Menry of Merrybrook Farms in Milton. "There's no problein solved whatsoever. This assistance will likely just help some farinera keep afloat a little longer instead of going bankrupt." Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell said that the Farm Income Payment "Tý'hi is just another bandage to guarantee cheap food for the. consumer for another year. There's no problem solved whatsoever. This assistance wiII likely just help soute farmers keep afloat a littie longer instead of going bankrupt." Program will begtn delivering mot&ey 10 eligible farmers in April as part of a two-part plan 10 ease immediate tinancial pressures and look at ways 10 transforin the agri- culture industry by finding the root of the problein. The assistance program will be based on the saine eligibility crite- ria as the Transitional Industry Support Program (TISP) that gave $930 million 10 farinera lasi year 10 ease pressures. Farinera who par- ticipated in TISP will be automati- cally enrolled in the Farin Income Payment Plan. It's alto hoped that the provincial govemments will match the feder- al govemment's announcement on a 60/40 basis. Looking toward long-term solu- tions, three Halton farmers contact- ed by The Champion cxpressed conceins that Canada isn't able to compete fairly in agricultural mar-4 kets with other countries that offer high subsidies to their farmers, thereby allowing them 10 seil their commodities at a cheaper rate. "We need a level playing field to compete fairly svith other coun- tries," said Mr. Merry. "We can'tj compete with countries that are heavily subsidized and can selI their products at a much lower rate than ours. Make the playing field level and we (Canada) could com- pete with any of thein." Another long-term solution, agreed Mr. Merry and Mr. Opsteen, is Canada becoming self-sufficient and reducing our reliance on other countries 10 process and selI our commodities. "I think a domestic food source ts Champion Country, Tuesday, Aprl 5, 2005-17 ltivites you tu joui Oa 0a... EFQJ>,,E e Give rrhome abeautifflnew look and elp save enetgy too. e Let Home install th e perfect doora and wndafor any tate. and any budet. a Mfordable and maintenapce excellent insulators e Home hasjtat about every of eoloura. 0 Custonm mae to fit >uur ftreùmu agriculture industry viable, saîd M. Opsteen. "L.ong-terin solutions are possible but it's going 10 take serions money and serious respect l froin the govemment, both of which they've already showed. For more information on the I I~ I ~ =H*W 1 Farin Income Payment Plan, vîsît U " » cr the Agriculture and Agri-Food liU 385 Steoes« Ave. E., Milton W05-878-9222 Canada's Web site aI t af msr 5 me .Ua Ou.i~ a ÇOaiga www.agr.gc.ca.____~..2:zz---:=, CRECE P T OUR SERVICE« WEP*WYUERTM or Ca Is erg.u bM"ie ai 9"548"496. te mrv "v OMaO. "f" sev0 Meir eh.su W.d of teleuiul.u, ##mens, Anne finise #"sa, UVU'.l aud WR'.l 43 Main St. E., Unit #8 1 . f~ .1. - Fr-la -p (bohind Fabdce Land) MILTON ýiC MPLTEV905-876-3958 N CNtm P&»à INU RWM Sat. - Oa.-5pnl 1HOME ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE'IT.WVWW COMPIetOAusdIOVIsUaI.com