WINNIPEG – Provincial election machinery is in top gear here, but after a week of intense campaigning, many farm organizations are disappointed that agriculture has not been mentioned.
“When we don’t hear anything about agriculture, especially with the uncertainty that producers are facing after the federal budget, we need to know what our province is going to help us with and what they’re prepared to do,” said Les Jacobson, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers, a Manitoba farm lobby group.
As party leaders make their pitch for votes on April 25, they are focusing on cutting the deficit, creating jobs and improving education and health care.
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Fred Tait, the Manitoba co-ordinator for the National Farmers Union, said he doubts the future of farming will be an election issue. He said because about 60 percent of voters live in Winnipeg, politicians and the media tend to concentrate on urban issues.
But he added because changes to the Crow transportation subsidy could have drastic effects on rural communities and agriculture is the mainstay of the province’s economy, leaders should be spending some time on farm issues.
When the election was called last week, the Progressive Conservatives held 29 seats, while the New Democrats had 20 and the Liberals had six. Two seats were vacant.
Only 22 of 57 ridings are in rural areas. The Conservative party holds 17 of these while the NDP holds five.
To bring agriculture to the forefront, Jacobson said KAP districts are organizing local all-candidates’ meetings where farmers will be able to ask questions and get comments from politicians. KAP represents more than 4,000 farmers.
Jacobson said if farmers in the province are to diversify, they need:
- A clear sense of the provincial government’s vision for agriculture.
- Promises that the government will change regulations to stimulate processing and other value-added ventures.
- A commitment to a strong whole-farm safety net, especially in the next few years while farmers adjust to grain transportation reform.
- Help with training to take advantage of value-added opportunities.
The president of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association said that while research, market development and the environment are important campaign issues for cattle producers, they are most concerned about economic matters.
“The first thing we’d like to see is a strong fiscal policy that promotes a strong province,” said Dale Smith. “If we have a strong fiscal policy, that helps everyone, including us.”
