TORONTO – Even by the standards of an increasingly tense relationship between national farm groups and agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief over details of new farm programs, last week’s exchange of charges was remarkable.
It began on Jan. 28 when Vanclief held two news conferences to argue that Ottawa’s proposals on new risk management programs were a direct response to farmer calls for better, simpler and more stable safety nets.
He was responding to growing industry complaints that federal proposals for new production insurance and Net Income Stabilization Account programs are unacceptable, or at least unproven, and yet Ottawa has been refusing to compromise.
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“At no time in my recollection has there been as much consultation that has taken place in the development of policy with farm organizations, with provinces,” Vanclief told reporters.
The next morning, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, supported by Grain Growers of Canada, fired back. Overnight, the CFA prepared a counter document.
“We cannot complain we were not heard or did not have access,” CFA president Bob Friesen said Jan. 29 in response to Vanclief. “I do not believe our message has gotten through, however.”
At the core of the strained relationship is a farm sector view that Ottawa’s proposals would require higher producer premiums for possibly lower support levels.
Most farm leaders have demanded an extension to Vanclief’s insistence that the new five-year period of program reform start April 1, 2003.
Vanclief insists federal money begins to fall off the table April 1 if new programs are not started. He also insists farmers will see little change in 2003 programs.
Farmers’ response has been that they are unwilling to enter a five-year program overhaul without knowing where it is headed.
“You don’t go to a car dealership and sign an agreement to purchase before you ever take it off the lot to see how it works,” Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Ron Bonnett said Jan. 31 while ministers were negotiating in an airport hotel.
The CFA response to Agriculture Canada claims was more blunt, accusing the department of “telling producers to trust the government to design programs to address industry needs despite the fact that to date, producer concerns have been largely ignored or dismissed.”
In the end Jan. 31, most provinces agreed with the federal government and left the Toronto agriculture ministers’ meeting promising to try to convince farmers the new policies will be good for them.
“It is frustrating,” Friesen said later. “What we need is proof and the time to assess it, rather than a sales job.”
