Last week’s cliff-hanger reprieve for the federal Liberal government and an end to immediate election speculation opens the door for progress on rural issues, say agriculture-connected MPs.
On May 19, Paul Martin’s Liberal government hung on by a speaker’s thread as the House of Commons split 152-152 in a confidence vote and Liberal MP Peter Milliken became the first House speaker in Canadian history to cast a vote that saved a government.
The reprieve is at best temporary. The opposition still may find the votes to defeat the Liberals within the next month and Martin has promised to call an election no later than January.
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Still, the government’s survival keeps some agricultural political files open.
Prince Edward Island Liberal Wayne Easter said the vote means he can finish his report on solutions to declining farm incomes that he is slated to present to federal and provincial agriculture ministers in July.
“I should now have an opportunity to finish my report as a government MP and get it to ministers,” he said. “I plan to start writing it soon.”
Easter is expected to recommend a series of government strategies to cope with declining farm incomes, including a reduction in government user fees and measures to give farmers more market power domestically and abroad.
At the House of Commons agriculture committee, work will continue on Bill C-27, legislation designed to give the Canadian Food Inspection Agency a legislative base. Opposition MPs are trying to amend the bill to increase oversight over the agency and to reduce some of the investigative and enforcement powers proposed for it by the government.
“It’s a huge bill and we’ve got to make sure we get legislation that protects the industry but also protects consumers,” said New Democratic Party agriculture critic Charlie Angus, who voted along with his caucus to support the government May 19.
Parliament also will be asked to deal with new cruelty-to-animals legislation introduced last week by justice minister Irwin Cotler.
Finance minister Ralph Goodale said May 19 that continuation of the current Parliament and government, with approval in principle of the February budget, means various government programs for and promises to farmers continue, including ending the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program deposit requirement, reviewing CAIS and continuing with farm income support programs as they exist.
“There is a lot at stake for farmers in the continuation of this Parliament and this government,” he said.
Southern Alberta Conservative MP and former farm leader Ted Menzies said in an interview it is a stretch to suggest preserving the budget and the government is good for farmers.
“There really is nothing in the budget for farmers,” he said. “But Parliament remains and we’re going to work. We will hold this government accountable.”
In Dawson Creek, B.C., Grain Growers of Canada president Jim Smolik said it might not matter much to farm issues whether there is a change of government or an election.
