The federal budget was approved in principle last week in record time, supported by Conservatives and Bloc Québécois MPs.
The NDP, Liberals and Green Party leader Elizabeth May opposed it.
The budget’s approval in the new majority Parliament was not in doubt, but the speed of the vote, sup-p orted by all sides as they rush toward this week’s parliamentary summer break, was unusual.
Once passed through all parliamentary stages, the budget will send $100 million over five years to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and put $50 million over two years into an agricultural innovation fund.
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The budget debate, which also touched on government promises to end the long gun registry and the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly, drew considerable agriculture and rural-related attention.
Although no longer agriculture critic, Liberal MP Wayne Easter could not resist going after southern Saskatchewan Conservative David Anderson on his gloating over the imminent demise of the wheat board’s single desk.
He asked if the government will hold a farmer vote and present to Parliament a cost-benefit analysis study of its plan.
Anderson said no farmer vote was held when the wheat board monopoly was imposed in 1943 or when the Liberals strengthened the act in 1998. He also said that with their diminished parliamentary presence of 34 seats, the Liberals hold fewer total seats than western agricultural seats won by the Conservatives on the Prairies.
“Is it not time for him to give up his stubborn position and start working for western Canadian farmers so they can have the same level of prosperity and opportunity that farmers have across the country?” Anderson said.
Alberta MP Leon Benoit mentioned the Conservative promise to negotiate a new long-term farm-support deal with the provinces that will kick in April 1, 2013.
He also urged the NDP to drop its regular opposition to trade deal legislation.
“Nothing done by this government in the area of agriculture is more important than developing those new markets,” Benoit said.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May said farmers have told her that trade undermines their ability to service the local market. While Canadian produce is trucked to the United States, the same trucks return with
food products from California.
“In other words, there is a lack of support for local food,” said May.
“There is a conflict between the increased globalization of food supply and the public demand for safe local healthy food and supporting family farmers in Canada.”
Benoit suggested she was listening mainly to city people and not farmers.
“In my area, I certainly did not hear the concerns she is expressing about opening up the world to more Canadian agriculture products,” he said.
“In fact, most of the constituents I have heard from are asking for that.”
