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16 The Independent, Canadian Statesman Weekender, Bowmanville, Saturday, March 12,1994 Cutbacks Threaten Flood Control and Prevention With this winter's big chill now threatening spring flooding in many areas, the Ganaraska Region Conservation Conservation Authority (GRCA), already stressed by provincial funding cutbacks, cutbacks, is worried about our continued ability to provide flood control and prevention. Representatives from the GRCA will be at the Ganaraska River to discuss discuss funding concerns, and to challenge challenge the government' to adopt the "Blueprint for Success" plan. The GRCA representatives were available March 9th at 3:00 p.m. on the west bank of the Ganaraska River opposite Port Hope town hall. This was part of a larger provincial initiative initiative by Ontario's conservation authorities authorities which had taken place earlier earlier in the day at Queen's Park. Continued provincial funding cuts are putting pressure on Conservation Authorities' flood control efforts. During the past several weeks, the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority Authority - with primary responsibility for flood control - has been working around the clock in anticipation of flood difficulties. "We're hard pressed to continue to deliver the flood prevention and control services our watershed residents residents have a right to expect," said Gayle Wood, CAO/Secretary Treasurer Treasurer for the GRCA. "This authority in particular, was hard hit by cutbacks. Essential services such as flood control control are being maintained at the expense expense of other programs." Much needed dam maintenance at Ball's Mill and Garden Hill, as well as tree planting, soil erosion control and New President Bected By Cattlemen's Assoc, Ken Summers, a Victoria County cattleman, has been chosen as President President of the Ontario Cattlemen's Association Association (OCA). The Board of Directors, Directors, representing the forty-nine County & District Càttlemen's Associations Associations across the province, elected Summers at the 32nd OCA Annual Meeting on February 24th in Toron- to. Summers, his wife Sharon and five daughters, run a beef cow/ feedlot operation near Kirkfield. They both moved from the city in 1972 to begin farming and expanded their operation to include a thriving cow herd and a feedlot where they finish their own calves along with purchased Ontario calves. Being on the edge of "cottage country", they saw an opportunity to market their own product and established a farm store and successful sweet com business business as well. Summers has focused his leadership leadership skills on the beef industry in the last fifteen years, having been very active with the Victoria Cattlemen's Association. He has been Director to the Ontario Cattlemen's Association for eight years and on the Executive Committee for the past five. He has also been a director to the Canadian Cattlemen's Association and the Beef Information Centre. As well, Ken is a volunteer fire fighter in Kirkfield. In his remarks as the new OCA President, Summers praised the efforts efforts of the Beef Information Centre and the national advertising program. "Advertising campaigns have succeeded succeeded in changing attitudes about the healthfulness of beef," and although although it cannot be held responsible for record high cattle prices, "it may not be only a coincidence!" Summers also sent a strong message message to Premier Rae regarding the lease revenue from the Ontario Stockyards. "If you think dealing with 950,000 civil servants was difficult difficult ... then try seizing revenue that belongs to the livestock industry." The coming year will present many challenges for Summers and the OCA Board and Summers is eager eager to take on this challenge. There is continual building and shaping to be done, "Our foundation is solid. Let our building be based on sound business business principles, a strong sense of entrepreneurship entrepreneurship and plain hard work." conservation area maintenance have been reduced or postponed to maintain maintain the flood control program, Wood added. It is ironic that fifty years of conservation conservation efforts are being "sandbagged" "sandbagged" by the upcoming provincial budget. "At this rate, we worry that the first-class flood control protection we have built over the decades could be reduced to us relying on sand bags", Wood commented. "This is particularly frustrating when the government government is ignoring the Association of Conservation Authorities of Ontario's Ontario's (ACAO) "Blueprint for Success" Success" document. That plan could save taxpayers more than $100 million annually. annually. Our straggle is a prime example of the financial pressure many local essential-service agencies find them selves under as result of funding cuts and downloading to local taxpayers. After three years of cuts which have slashed 35 percent of our funding, the GRCA is worried about our future ability to respond to flood emergencies. emergencies. Conservation Authorities have identified a "tangled maze" of duplication duplication and overlap in the current delivery delivery of local environmental protec tion and natural resource management programs and services. Instead, they propose that Conservation Conservation Authorities be given the role of coordinating the delivery of a wide range of programs through a one- window approach at the local level, while the province would retain responsibility responsibility for policy development. The province has continually refused to discuss these initiatives. 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