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¥ TH ty Sm 24) 16 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 6, 2601 Hg dN ou 9 inp sian SA Wa pe Rn B WTR PTR 8 Sh AY Cad SA Aas a "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Aid package heavily criticized Farm lobby slams feds' agriculture funding "Ontario farmers will be frustrated and angry with the federal government's. announced $500 million for agricultural safety net funding," says Bill Mailloux, vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). And the OFA president expressed disappointment.' "We're grateful for all the work mem- bers of parliament did to take agricul- ture's message of need to cabinet, but there's major disappointment with cab- inet's decision. I'm sure our members has share that disappointment," said Jack Wilkinson, president of the OFA, follow- ing the announcement by Lyle Vanclief, federal minister of Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada. Mr. Vanclief told delegates at the annual meeting of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture that an addi- tional $500 million would be added to the safety nets package with another 40 per cent expected from provincial gov- ernments bringing the total of new funding to $830 million. "The $500 million fell well short of the $900 million farm leaders from across the country were seeking from the federal government," Mr. Mailloux said. "It was good to hear the minister rec- ognize the importance of such things as environment, sustainable agriculture and a spring cash advance, he said, "but clearly the income situation is critical." Expansion of exports of Canadian agricultural products was talked about by the minister as a means of improving incomes of Canadian farmers, but that approach takes time and "it won't help with today's desperate financial situa- tion faced by Ontario farmers," Mailloux said. "Ontario farmers called for a realistic level of support. Clearly Minister Vanclief's announcement falls drastical- ly short of real needs," Wilkinson said. "We will intensify our activities and will work with all Ontario farmers to meet our objective." < PO / RT PERRY STAR < |) Local farmers critical of package 'Vale ty has lobbied hard for more assistance from the governments, said Mr. Vale. Protests: have been held at local constituency offices, including Durham MP Alex Shepherd's in Port Perry, and large ral- lies have met with sup- port from the.community, he said. "We told (the federal government) what our problem was and what we needed... we thought Late picking up the kids? _ From page 1 Mr. Vale said farmers were looking to receive up to $70 an acre in pay- ments if the government pitched in an extra $900 i million. Now, he says, they're going to have to try and make do with a) - rr approximately $30 an acre. - a2 43 Farmers here and 4a 45. 46 . across the country have aR T: ron been battered by lagging cornmodity prices. They 51 52 23 say they're hard-pressed =| FE 58 [59 to" compete in markets : . i dominated by American ¥ : and European farmers, [* 65 66 who enjoy government ; : subsidies. ACROSS ®. Dodouiey ering, . 22. a ajo " "Everyone I've talked i aes © 53, War memento 29. Subsided to feels the same. We all . Luxur 54. "Bali___" 30. Shelley poems 3 10. Rheumatic 57. Jungle sound 31. Said yes need help and we ve " bso Rogan 58. Putting up with 33. Ardent asked for help, but we've . O'Grady of song 61. Religious recluse 34. Dull finishes 16. National League 62. Intone 36. Coffee, informally only gotten half of what oq Sw 63. Popular cookie 39. Move with a jerk we need," said Mr. Vale. - Premed 64. Hill dwellers 40. Amores writer " : . , 19. Singer Vikki 65. Great Lakes 42. Take a break . It feels like were 20. Dryden's ___ For ton 43. GWTW name going home with half a ove" 66. Eft 48, Mariner's m . 21. Parrotiish milieu 9: Vialirarstcgs paycheque; you know 22. Made nooses DOWN 49. 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Kind of fund SPONSORED BY Crossword Answers on pg. 5 Late for your meeting? Late getting to your game? They'd rather you be late then never show up ever again. they understood," said Mr. Vale. He refused to acknowl- edge that half of $900 mil- lion is better than no help at all: "It's a slap in the face. They know what we need, and this is what they give us." The farming industry has been hit hard, partic- ularly last summer when rainy weather meant low yields, combined with even lower prices. Farmers survived in 1998 ,and 1999 when they com- bated low prices with high yields, says Mr. Vale, who has farmed here for 29 years. "Our future is not too bright. When 1 first start- - ed out |] had more future when | was 100 per cent in debt. I could work my way out then, but not now," he said. David Barry, president of the Durham Federation of Agriculture, also expressed disap- pointment over the gov- ernment's aid package. "It was a slap in the face to all farmers. To say we're disappointed would be an understate- ment," he said last week. "I've never seen it like this, never this bad. The guys have to start working the land in a month or so, and they're having trou- ble paying the bills," said Mr. Barry. "Future crops are in jeopardy because they don't have the money to pay the input costs to put the crops in this year." All farmers want is a level playing field with their competitors,. he said. "We need $900 million to make that happen," said Mr. Barry, noting that "half is better than none". "But people are drowning out there. It's like throwing them half a life-preserver. It's not enough to do the job." Local farmers plan to take part in the next rally in Ottawa on March 14. "We're not going to give up and let it slide," said Mr. Barry. "We're going to keep rallying until they realize what kind of situation we're in." Durham MP Alex Shepherd could not be reached for comment. 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Enjoy the seminar in the tropical ambience of the Goodwood Gardens Greenhouses, #378 Highway 47, | kilometer east of Goodwood. For further information call (905) 640-4852.