It was likely not a surprise to most that little agricultural policy discussion occurred at the recent Conservative party convention in Calgary.
I think it’s safe to say there were other things on the prime minister’s mind.
Besides, most governing party conventions, at least of late, have given short shrift to agricultural policy. It is a sign of the times: the relatively good times recently enjoyed in agriculture.
Still, there was not one reference to future goals for agriculture in Stephen Harper’s speech to delegates. It was, however, interesting that he made two references to his government’s past rural accomplishments: ending the CWB monopoly and trashing the long-gun registry.
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A resolution from Alberta delegates to kill supply management did not hit the floor, and was soundly pooh-poohed by agriculture minister Gerry Ritz.
Is that it, then, for agricultural policy from this government?
And, what there is of it, can we say it’s consistent?
Keeping supply management but killing the wheat board, whatever you might think of either position, don’t seem to fit into the same free market file.
Call me cynical, but I suspect the Conservatives are going to need every single rural Ontario vote they can muster in the 2015 election. Supply management isn’t going anywhere.
One can also argue, on behalf of the righter side, that agriculture is business, and business tends to adhere to a free market philosophy in this part of the world. But most business has policy surrounding it. Consider the royalties paid by mining companies, or the tax laws, or the brouhaha over communications that has recently hit the news.
Even those who would say that agriculture is no different from any other business — and I am not among them — would have to consider that good, forward-looking policy is always important.
As Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, said, the government has to realize the ag industry is cyclical.
“I think that good times are when you should be looking at what could need fixing in the future,” he said. “There are a number of issues that planning is needed on: risk management, for instance, and the whole research agenda that does not seem to be a real focus at the moment.”
