Briefly last week, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture thought it would get a dose of valuable national television exposure in its fight against Ottawa’s agricultural policy framework.
Then, after political wheels ground within political wheels, and the CBC became suspicious that the farm lobby was trying to manipulate the network, the appearance was scuttled.
The saga began when the CFA issued an announcement April 29 that president Bob Friesen would be on the CBC Newsworld show Politics April 30 to discuss APF flaws.
“Agriculture and agri-food minister Lyle Vanclief has also been invited to appear on this program,” said the CFA announcement. “CFA calls on the minister to join Mr. Friesen on the program and debate the issues.”
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The Friesen invitation was cancelled soon after in a terse call from Politics staff to the CFA office.
CFA executive secretary Brigid Rivoire said in an interview the federation was surprised. She said it had been told Vanclief had been invited “and we were simply encouraging him to accept the invitation to debate.”
In fact, after the CFA public statement, there had been a call from Vanclief’s office to Politics host Don Newman. They knew nothing of an invitation. What was going on?
Newman’s version is that CFA asked for the chance to have Friesen on the show and CBC agreed.
CFA asked to have Vanclief on as well. Newman said the minister told them he would not do that.
“They then put out a press release which I took as an effort to either embarrass me or Vanclief,” said the veteran CBC journalist and broadcaster.
He was not amused.
“I dropped them,” he said. “Don’t try to roll me.”
