Mr. Wrightman’s letter about the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Green Energy Act is naïve and offensive to the OFA and the Ontario farmers who are capitalizing on green energy opportunities.

Before taking up his suggestion to seek a refund of OFA membership, we urge readers to understand the facts about green energy and OFA’s real involvement on behalf of farmers.

OFA’s positions on green energy were developed from grassroots input. Members make suggestions and together with staff and scientific advisers, positions are drafted and revised for approval by OFA’s Board. No member of the Board or staff is beholden to any outside group. Mr. Wrightman should be ashamed of any contrary suggestion that farm volunteers are on the take or in the pockets of any group or industry.

OFA led the attack on irresponsible wind leases in

I am writing to comment on Wes Keller’s article in the January14th issue regarding the closure of Shelburne Hospital. As a nursing employee appreciate Mr Keller's reporting on this issue and the support he has showed the hospital , but I would like to point out one error in his latest article. He refers to the hospital as having”long term care “ beds. This is not correct. A portion of our beds are deemed Chronic Continuing Care. Long Term Care is what we now call nursing homes. We are not a nursing home.

Thanks Wes and keep up the good work.

Lori White

RPN Ontario. The OFA web site has the most complete wind lease critique available. It is regularly used by lawyers advising landowners about leases. OFA has run over 100 meetings around Ontario, including two in Algoma that provided farmers with specific cautionary advice on wind leases. At the end of the day, the farmer, as land owner, decides if the lease is acceptable.

OFA objects to improper elements of wind leases, but supports green energy. We do this because:

- farmers can benefit from green energy income

- green energy is less polluting and has a smaller carbon footprint than coal or natural gas based alternatives

- green energy and conservation (with the exception of solar power) actually costs the same or less than power from natural gas, power from new nuclear plants and imported coal power

- wind power, used for fuel cell recharging to power cars and trucks will provide nonpolluting fuel at half the present cost of gasoline in Ontario

- people are ill and dying from air pollution and the earth is suffering from climate warming and green energy is part of the resolution.

And yes, OFA does care about the health of the earth as well as about the incomes of farmers. The two things go together. And OFA cares about its reputation and will protect it from the misstatements and innuendo contained in Mr. Wrightman’s letter.

Thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight.

Bette Jean Crews, President

Ontario Federation of

Agriculture