WHAT ever happened to Ottawa’s principled stand that it treats all Canadian farmers equally?
Once upon a time, not so long ago really, federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief stood tall on the principle of equality as he fended off demands that Ottawa change its agriculture policy framework to accommodate special provincial conditions.
Provinces can top up federal programs to create inequality across provincial boundaries but Ottawa must treat all farmers the same, he insisted day after day last winter as Bloc Québecois MPs demanded that Ottawa allow Quebec to funnel the federal agriculture policy framework through provincial programs.
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No way. This Feb. 7 Question Period response was typical:
“We ensure that every farmer in every province in Canada under similar circumstances is treated the same way federally for trade reasons and for equality reasons,” he told a BQ critic. “The province is free, willing and able to do as it has in the past with the extra support to its farmers. As a federal government … we are going to treat every farmer in the same way.”
How can that equality principle square with Vanclief’s increasingly desperate attempts to force the APF into existence, using treatment of farmers in APF-reluctant provinces as pawns?
The minister recently said that beef farmers suffering losses flowing from BSE-related trade disruptions will be able to apply for an advance on federal safety net funds this autumn. Thousands of dollars are available to them, and with an unprecedented promise of a one-month turn around between application and money in the bank.
Oh, and by the way, this largesse is available only to farmers living in provinces that have signed APF implementing agreements. In other words, British Columbia and Alberta farmers are eligible but those in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island are not.
Unless, of course, they twist their provincial government’s arm to sign a deal that most farmers think is flawed. The message from Ottawa is that some farmers are more equal than others if their provincial governments play the federal game.
It is important to keep in mind that Vanclief is not arguing farmers have to belong to APF programs before they are eligible for help. If there was an APF, that would carry some logic.
There is no APF yet. Three more provinces must sign to make it a program.
The federal auditor general might have some interesting comments about federal cash advances against a program that is not yet legally in existence.
Beyond that small legal issue, the political reality is that Vanclief is telling farmers their provincial governments must commit to be part of a non-existent program before they are equal in Ottawa’s eyes.
Let’s give the minister the benefit of the doubt and assume he is acting on the advice of his politically amateurish officials who want to see their APF design in place against the wishes of farmers before there is a Liberal regime change next winter and a new, allegedly more farmer-friendly government takes over.
Surely the equality-spouting minister or his political advisers would not have concocted this strategy of inequality for those who do not toe the government line, just to get their way on APF.
