EDMONTON – The question is a slow ball over the centre of the plate for Alberta Conservative MPs who traditionally cruise to victory with ease.
After more than five years of Conservative government, are farmers better off than they were under 13 years of Liberal government?
Brian Storseth, the 33-year-old two-term MP from the sprawling rural riding of Westlock-St. Paul north of Edmonton, grins.
“Don’t take my word but listen to the guys that I talk to and they say definitely,” he said.
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“They have benefitted from the increased markets we have gotten for their products. There have been some improvements to the margin-based programs, AgriRecovery, AgriInvest. These programs are seen as having helped the West lots.”
East of Edmonton in the Vegreville- Wainwright riding, six-time MP Leon Benoit said farmers in his riding are more upbeat this election than he has previously seen.
“Prices are good and that helps, but I think they also see a government in Ottawa that represents them, that supports them,” he said. “I think they see that we reflect their values.”
Next door in Crowfoot riding, Wild Rose Agricultural Producers president Humphrey Banack suggested the Conservatives have not fundamentally changed agriculture policy in five years of governing.
“The Conservatives said they would scrap CAIS (Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization) program, but they put it in the body shop, repainted it and changed its name,” he said. “I haven’t really seen major change for our sector.”
And in some ways, particularly in its failure to meet demands for dramatically increased research funding, the Conservative government has not responded to agriculture, said the second vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
However, farmers vote on much more than farm issues and Banack said the Conservatives understand “the reality of rural Canada” better than the Liberals.
He used child-care policy as an example, “and that is very important to young farm families.”
Liberals have pledged money for daycare and early learning spaces, while the Conservatives reinvented the baby bonus that sends $100 per month to families with young children.
“Building spaces if you live 50 miles from town is irrelevant in the country,” said the farm leader.
“Conservatives understand what is needed to meet the reality in rural Canada. Their basic ideology is to put money out for us to decide how it is best spent. That works here.”
For years, Rod Scarlett watched agriculture policy develop while he was executive director of WRAP, and he has formed a strong view of the impact of five years of Conservative government on agriculture policy and programming.
“Virtually none at all,” he said. “In Alberta, as it relates to ag policies, we’ve seen very little from this government.”
