HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-12-13 Minutes
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CLARINGTON AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
THURSDAY, December 13, 2007
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Ted Watson
Henk Mulders
Gary Jeffery
Brenda Metcalf
Donald Rickard
Eric Bowman
Mary Ann Found
Ross McMaster
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REGRETS!
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Councillor Gord Robinson
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Marlene Werry , "
Mark Bragg
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Gary Jeffejjy, Vice- Chair called the meeting to order'
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Adoption of Aaenda
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Moved by Brenda Metcalf, seconded
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'That the minutes of the November 8, 2007 be approved. n
CARRIED
Guest:
Jennifer Stone - Metroland Publishing, Durham Region Media Group
Metroland, a division of Torstar has seven newspapers covering the Durham Region.
The Canadian Statesman and the Clarington This Week are the two papers devoted to
Clarington. The Canadian Statesman is being phased out as of next week. In addition,
they have www.durhamreqion.com which is the internet version of the paper. The
majority of their reporters live in this area.
Story ideas are derived from a number of sources. If someone cares enough to write to
the paper then that topic is probably worth a story. Press releases are shared by all
seven of metro lands papers. Story's are assigned by the editor to each reporter.
When writing a story the writer will interview many people and do volumes of research.
This can take from Yo hour to many hours to complete. Longer versions of the story
appear on the internet and may be edited down (by an editor) for the newspaper.
What is a hard news story?
A hard news story is generally fact filled. Something that is happening right now. A
police story is one example.
And a soft news story?
An example of that would be something going on at a school - like a fund raiser.
When dealing with story's it is important to keep in mind the deadlines that reports work
by. There are three cut-off times during the day......9 am, 11 am and 7 pm. The first
story's of the day need to be ready by 10:30 am. Print stories have to be ready by 3 pm
to make the press run.
The web site is updated frequently to keep it current. The story's on the web can
generally be longer as there is no space constraint. This web site receives 200,000
unique hits weekly.
If you read an article in Ag Ontario that you think is something that everyone should
know call or e-mail Jennifer and she will investigate. If you have an idea for a story that
would be of interest to others please contact Jennifer (Jennifer distributed her cards to
all the members).
The committee agreed to provide Jennifer with the committee membership list, e-mails
and phone numbers and their areas of expertise in agriculture. Gary will provide an
additional list of others (like organizations and commodity group contacts) to Jennifer.
Business Arising from Minutes
The CLOCA Awards were handed out. Mitch Morewetz received an award for his
Environmental Farm Plan implementation, fencing off the creek, a hard creek crossing,
as solar powered cattle and sheep watering system, etc.
AACC
December 13, 2007
Correspondence
Committee received a copy of the Council Resolution for the 407 Report.
The consultant would like to come back and speak with the Ag Committee when they
get closer to dealing with some of the functional design issues (where driveways are,
field accesses, etc).
Reports from Committees
DAAC
EFW is still being discussed. DAAC has requested that if the EFW be the very best
technology, not the cheapest.
There is a new Durham Region tree cutting by-law in the works which appears to allow
farmers on class 1, 2, & 3 land to clear for farming purposes; however they will be
subject to fees. This will override the Clarington by-law which exempts farmers from
fees.
DAAC is meeting with MPAC to try to get more details on how items are being
assessed. There seems to be a lot of discrepancies in assessment, most notably
involving bunk houses. Some are being taxed at the farm rate, while the farmer next
door is having his taxed at the residential rate. There are also a number of questions of
how "green energy" is being assessed at commercial rates.
Durham Federation of Aqriculture
The annual meeting was held on October 2. Scott Swain is the Ontario rep. There was
a presentation from the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. Efforts on working closer with
the business sector are ongoing.
November 19 and 20 were the annual conference. Farm income will be a priority again
this year.
Farm Connections is still in the running for a Premiers Award, Mary Ann has been
interviewed.
Other Business
Farmers Parade of Lights
Had a couple of issues with the police closing roads to early this year. This will be
addressed in a meeting with the police and participants at Eric's home early in 2008.
Future Agendas
January - Leslie Benson from Engineering Services on the Site Alteration by-law
February - Wetland Legislation
Moved to Adjourn Eric
AACC December 13,2007