Midway through the election campaign, Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Tony Morris issued a stinging indictment of politicians running for the federal government June 2.
None are spending much time talking about agriculture, he charged. Farmers and their supporters should demand more attention to their issues.
In fact the 1997 election is offering farmers some clear choices in agricultural policy, even though none of the party leaders have made the industry one of their priority issues.
The Liberals have offered a platform that promises more of the same from a government that has been in power for more than three years.
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New Democratic Party policies are familiar promises of support for orderly marketing with some spending increases.
Reform and the Progressive Conservatives would build on cuts implemented by the Liberals, with some selective areas where support would increase or be stabilized and tax cuts, which would apply to farmers and other Canadians.
All parties are promising to break down inter-provincial trade barriers, but that has been promised by politicians for decades with little progress.
Following is a comparison of key agriculture policies offered by the four major parties contesting the election in Western Canada.
