Wishart, Sask., farmer Wayne Stefankiw found it easier than expected last week to win a sympathetic hearing on Parliament Hill for agriculture’s plight.
He spent the week in the so-called farmers’ embassy established by the Saskatchewan Rally Group, talking to MPs about the need for more federal support for farmers.
“I thought it would be a tough sell but everyone was agreeing with me,” he said Feb. 16. “Everybody seems to be on side.”
Now, all eyes this week and next are on agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief as he tries to squeeze new money out of finance minister Paul Martin.
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At least one Liberal MP thinks the first hurdle is to convince the bureaucrats at Agriculture Canada itself.
Prince Edward Island Liberal Wayne Easter said last week that when trying to win support for programs to help farmers, the department is more a part of the problem than the solution.
“There are always 16 reasons why the bureaucracy cannot do something and never one why it can,” he said during an emergency House of Commons debate Feb. 13 about the farm income crisis.
It was a five-hour evening debate initiated by Conservative critic Rick Borotsik and it was remarkable for its common theme. MPs from all parties agreed that help is needed.
For the first time, Canadian Alliance agriculture critic Howard Hilstrom called for a $1 billion federal commitment.
For months, he and his party have dodged the issue of how much taxpayer money is needed, preferring to argue that lower taxes and a voluntary Canadian Wheat Board are the largest part of the answer.
“The government has let the crisis build and build,” Hilstrom said. “We have talked about solutions but the only solution is to go with what farm groups are saying, that they need $1 billion over and above existing safety net programs.”
Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark gave the most impassioned speech of the night, insisting Ottawa must save the farm community from extinction.
“If he (the prime minister) is unable to persuade the Americans to reduce their subsidies, and the evidence is he cannot get them to bring theirs down, then he has a clear obligation to ensure there is financial support to Canadian farmers who are suffering in comparison,” Clark said.
An unprecedented number of urban Ontario Liberals also rose to say they understand the rural plight and support more help.
“A vibrant, sustainable, profitable agricultural sector is part of who we are,” said York North Liberal Karen Kraft-Sloan. “If it is suffering, then we are suffering. More important, we become vulnerable … . I call upon the government to do what is right.”
Vanclief promised the House his “best effort” to give the farm income issue priority and to find some money to help.
“Our farmers deserve no less,” he said.
Next week he will face members of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture at their annual meeting and, the following week, will host provincial agriculture ministers at a Quebec City meeting.
Both groups will be looking for a more concrete commitment.
This week, urban Liberal MPs are trying to keep the heat on with a Parliament Hill tribute to the family farm.
Opposition MPs say they will continue to press Vanclief for an announcement within days, so farmers can get help before spring seeding.
“It is time we had a federal government that set and maintained a vision for agriculture, a vision for our agriculture community to literally be able to feed the world and at the same time, feed their own families,” Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day said.
