Lost in the crowd of 1,000 candidates in the Nov. 27 federal election were two farm women.
Both ran for the ND-10-P. Both lost.
For Carolyn Van Dine, president of the Canadian Farm Women’s Network, it was a learning experience.
Noreen Johns, past executive secretary of the Saskatchewan Women’s Agricultural Network, agreed that it was enriching.
Johns, from Zelma, Sask., said she chose the New Democratic Party because it suited her values of people pulling together. She was surprised by the amount of support from people who volunteered to work on her campaign.
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However, being a farmer didn’t help her on election night. Johns was second with 6,715 votes to Canadian Alliance opponent Lynne Yelich’s 10,959 in the rural-urban riding of Saskatoon-Blackstrap.
Farmers “ignored my work as a farm woman. That didn’t matter. They wanted to vote against the Liberals.”
Whether she runs again depends on whether she feels her political ability would be appreciated.
“I’d be very pleased to represent people but I’m not going to sit around waiting for the next election. If it catches me another time between activities …”
Van Dine ran fourth in her rural New Brunswick seat, which was won by a Conservative. She said she was approached to run and decided it matched her interests in social issues and would ensure that rural concerns were talked about in the campaign.
“I was totally new and green myself. I knew I wouldn’t win.”
When asked about her political future, Van Dine said it would take a while for her to see if there is a natural fit between her and the ND-10-P. She wants to help the party’s provincial wing build a stronger agricultural platform.
“I stepped aside as president (of CFWN) for the month. I was concerned. I didn’t want the network to be labeled, but the executive also felt it would be a shame to curb anyone’s learning experience.”
