One of the strongest Conservative majorities in recent memory should work in agriculture’s favour, say Alberta farm leaders.
“Agriculture wasn’t really addressed in the election, which was disappointing, but with the relationships we have built we hope we can keep it in the forefront,” said Russ Pickett, president of the Western Stock Growers’ Association. He lives at Bassano and his new representative is the former chair of the Canada Beef Export Federation, Arno Doerksen.
Those contacted on election night said a good relationship has developed between producers and agriculture minister George Groeneveld, as well as sustainable resource development minister Ted Morton, whose department oversees land use and grazing leases.
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However some questioned how effective the opposition parties would be against such a large majority and what kind of cabinet might be selected from a large field of qualified candidates.
“Sometimes a big majority is not always a good thing. It never hurts to have a difference of opinion,” said Andrew Peden of Minburn.
Peden was also concerned about agriculture’s place among the issues.
“A lot of farmers felt left out and hopefully that won’t be the case. There is getting to be less of us and a lot of people are working off the farm in town or in the oilpatch,” he said.
The new agriculture minister must deftly handle all farmer issues at a time when the grain and oilseed sectors are enjoying record prices, while the once powerful red meat sector is deteriorating financially. All the leaders are hoping for a strong agriculture minister to provide guidance and maintain a strong presence in Ottawa.
Doug Robertson, chair of the Alberta Barley Commission, and Jeff Nielsen, president of the Western Barley Growers Association, are hopeful their bids for an open market for malting and export barley will happen.
The overwhelming mandate returned to premier Ed Stelmach should be a strong message to the federal government about what Albertans want, they said. Stelmach’s unassuming nature may be a plus in the fight for marketing choice and changes to the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program.
“Ed Stelmach is not confrontational so he is more likely to get consensus with the federal government,” said Robertson.
With such a strong mandate in Alberta, they hope the other western provinces and the federal government follow the province’s lead on more open markets and fewer regulations.
“We were the lone wolf out there for a long time,” said Nielsen.
Robertson and Nielsen hope Groeneveld is reappointed as agriculture minister although Erik Butters, of the Alberta Beef Producers said the organization will work with whoever is named to the portfolio.
The province has provided aid through the Alberta Recovery Program for beef and pork producers but Butters said this wealthy government couldn’t go too far with ad hoc programs because of the threat of trade action from trading partners.
“We are very cognizant of the risks of countervail (duties). The industry is in a wreck but in the big picture we want to ensure we don’t get into that situation,” he said.
Last fall, Groeneveld met with industry leaders to discuss strategies for the beef industry still struggling with BSE fallout and a market downturn for hogs and pork. He launched task forces to study regulatory burden and competitiveness strategies to relieve the stress without disturbing international trading partners. Too many regulations cost the industry about $70 per animal said Butters.
“A $70 reduction in the regulatory burden is better than a $70 cheque in the mail,” he said.
