Ontario beef producer Don Badour has a modest wish for the next five weeks of federal election campaigning.
“I would like to think that the candidates will listen to us, indicate they understand that our farm and rural areas are hurting, and that they are committed to doing something about it,” the third generation farmer said from his 1,200 acre operation west of Ottawa. “It would be nice if we got that recognition from the leaders too.”
On May 23, prime minister Paul Martin announced that Canadians will judge his six-month-old Liberal government June 28. He has said western Canadian issues are a priority and the Liberals have attracted high profile candidates across the region, including farm leaders.
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But election eve public opinion polls suggested the electorate is volatile and the outcome far from certain.
Martin, who became the 21st prime minister Dec. 12, is trying to extend almost 11 years of majority Liberal rule. He faces Stephen Harper of the new Conservative party and novice NDP leader Jack Layton.
Within days, all parties are expected to unveil election platforms that promise to help agriculture climb out of the income trough it has fallen into in the wake of a BSE-closed border, rising input costs, low commodity prices and competition from subsidized commodities.
Farm leaders are urging producers to use the election campaign to raise the profile of agriculture for the new MPs.
“I think it will be up to farmers to make sure their issues are addressed,” Grain Growers of Canada president Ken Bee said last week from his southwestern Ontario farm. “There certainly are no lack of issues that need addressing.”
Manitoba hog and turkey producer Bob Friesen, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, said the election campaign is an opportunity in the midst of the worst farm income crisis in Canadian history.
“Words from the politicians, promises and grand statements are not going to do it,” said Friesen. “We are going to need to hear concrete promises that politicians are committed to working with farmers to make sure our sector can prosper. Farm income is going to be key and the policies needed to help that happen are not just spending or getting the border open. It’s also looking at policies like regulation and cost recovery that add costs.”
In mid-campaign, the CFA plans to organize a debate among agricultural critics from the main parties to get their positions on the record. Farm leaders say candidates can expect to be pressed on issues such as:
- How will the next government respond to beef industry hurt if the U.S. border remains closed?
- What guarantees are there that the next government will hold out at World Trade Organization talks for a deal that helps Canadian farm income?
- Will the next government review and improve government policies and regulations that add costs to farm operations or expose them to unfair competition?
- Will a new government promise to use the safety net system to offset the impact of foreign agricultural subsidies on Canadian farm income?
- Is there a commitment to develop a rural policy for Canada that recognizes the problems and potential of the rural economy? The Martin government downgraded responsibility for rural policy in cabinet from a secretary of state position under Jean Chrétien to a lower level parliamentary secretary.
