Lawrence MacAulay laughs when asked when farmers can expect to see the promised grain transportation legislation that will impose reciprocal penalties on shippers and railways.
The federal agriculture minister is far too experienced and careful to give anything away.
However, it’s clear he ranks the impending legislation as an accomplishment for the one-year-old government that was initially criticized for its lack of representation in the agricultural West.
“I think when you look at what took place, just on the review of the (Canada Transportation Act) and reciprocal penalties, I think that alone would be a signal to the agricultural sector in the country that this government understands,” he said in an interview.
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Another example is the $350 million transition funding offered to the dairy sector to modernize and prepare for new trading rules.
Then there were the announcements of new and re-opening markets for beef, pork and canola in countries such as Mexico, Argentina and China.
The resolution of the canola trade dispute with China, at least temporarily, over dockage was likely the most challenging issue of the year, MacAulay said.
“There was a lot of people, right up to the prime minister himself, (who) did a lot of work on that,” he said of the agreement that maintained access to the $2.6 billion Chinese market.
“It was tense up to that day here, understanding what it means.”
MacAulay, who often reminds reporters that he was a Prince Edward Island potato farmer, says his ultimate job is to get more money into farmers’ pockets.
“I have a great understanding of what that means,” he said.
“Meeting farmers, I would say to them many times, you know I’ve been on your side of the table most of the time.”
Still, the breadth of Canadian agriculture presents a steep learning curve. A little more than a year into his cabinet post, he credits provincial governments, industry organizations and individual farmers across the country for helping him.
“Agriculture is big. I was solicitor general at one time and I thought that was, but this thing is hopping,” he said.
“The need for protein worldwide is so big and we have so many great ranchers and farmers in this country and the opportunities are so big. It’s a great time to be here and hopefully we’re going to put the next policy framework together in agriculture and open up new markets.”
Ministers from the provinces and territories will join MacAulay in Newfoundland and Labrador in July to sign the next policy framework.
MacAulay said changes to the existing programs are needed, but that’s up to the provinces. Every jurisdiction gets a single vote.
He said he talks to individual ministers and believes they are mostly on the same page.
However, it may come down to the money. MacAulay said it would be inappropriate for him to say how much will be available for the 2018-23 program.
The current program is worth $3 billion, funded 60 percent federally and 40 percent by the provinces.
MacAulay, who has been in Parliament for 28 years, said finances were tight when he arrived, are still tight and will likely be 28 years from now.
“But I think there’s a clear understanding at the government of Canada and the provinces across the county what a vital asset agriculture is to the growing economy,” he said.
MacAulay lists his priorities for 2017 as continuing to promote Canadian agricultural products with a view to opening more markets.
“It’s a pretty exciting time to be here.”
