New OFA leader seeks consensus

With farmers facing unprecedented government
cutbacks, new Ontario Federation of Agriculture
president Tony Morris says he doesn't want to be
confrontational with politicians, but he's prepared
to wage war if he has to.
"You get more flies with a jar of honey than you
get with a brick. However, that brick is always
going to be in the back pocket if necessary," said
Morris, who was acclaimed OFA president at the
Federation's annual convention last month in
Toronto. No challengers emerged from the over 500
farmers gathered for the three-day convention.
Morris, a 43-year-old sheep farmer from Mildmay,
Bruce county, takes over from Roger George, who did
not seek re-election after five consecutive years
as OFA president. Morris is joined on the executive
by vice presidents Ken Kelly and Ed Segsworth.
After a five-year relationship with the New
Democrats which brought stable funding and
financial security to the organization, Morris will
be expected to keep agriculture out of the path of
Mike Harris's fiscal machete.
But Morris said farmers and the provincial Tories
do have common objectives and can work together.
"We're just as interested in creating jobs in the
province...and economic activity as any member of
government is," but government and farmers need to
co-operate, Morris said. "We've all got the same
goal - a better economic climate for all of us."
Like George, Morris is also a British immigrant. He
came to Canada from Surrey in 1975 and farms with
his wife, Judy, and their four children. Morris
said his leadership style is comparable to
George's. "Roger believed in working together with
others in the farm leadership, and I certainly
believe in that too." He said his priority is not
to destroy the "trust, respect and credibility we
have built up around the farm community in this
province.
"Partnerships and coalitions are our treasures. We
must never allow that to change."
Morris, who has been involved on the national farm
scene with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture
and as one of Ontario's representatives on the
national safety nets committee, said the farm lobby
organization "is the envy of the county." 
Part of that success is teamwork and input from
farming's grassroots, he said. "I'm quite prepared
to pass on some of the responsibility to those
people (OFA executive, directors, county
organizations and committees), but communication
will be key to getting the job done.
"We've got to listen and hear what is being
said...that's a key of leadership."
With a $6-million budget, OFA is quickly becoming
more than a farmer lobby. Over the last few years,
the Federation has broadened its mandate to include
rural issues.
"Rural life is more than just farmers," Morris
said. "We depend on hospitals, schools, roads and
policing just as much as anybody in the city."
The OFA, with over 40,000 members, must be heard on
these issues, he said.
"We want to be part of the process....If the
government wants to discuss land use, we better be
there. We're stewards of 14 million acres across
this province, and you don't start making policies
without consulting those who are going to be
greatly affected out in the rural community." - BT

   

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