The federal Liberals, in parliamentary opposition for the first time in more than a dozen years and short on rural representation, are signalling that they want to be seen as an aggressive voice on farm issues.
Last week, as part of its rebuilding efforts, the party announced a massive “renewal commission” project that includes 32 task forces ranging from fund raising and faith to environment and cities.
Included is a task force on agricultural policy that asks a fundamental question: “How can Canada’s farmers in all commodity markets prosper?”
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Newfoundland beef farmer and former provincial social services minister Kay Young will lead the task force. She also was president of the Canadian Farm Women’s Network.
Like all the task forces, the agricultural effort will solicit ideas and proposals on the internet, hold hearings and prepare a report by the end of summer. It will offer the party and the new leader some ideas on how to reconnect the Liberal Party to rural Canada. Outside of the Atlantic provinces, rural ridings are largely represented by the Conservatives or, in Quebec, by the Bloc Québécois.
Meanwhile, Liberal MP Wayne Easter showed early in the new Parliament that he will be demanding Conservative action to match Conservative promises to farmers.
Last week, the Liberal agriculture critic and veteran Prince Edward Island MP who once led the National Farmers Union was demanding an immediate $1.6 billion federal commitment to spring farm aid.
He also introduced a private member’s bill in the Commons that calls for a vote on supporting supply management.
Last November, days before the election call, the Commons unanimously supported a resolution that Canada make no concessions on supply management protections during World Trade Organization talks.
Easter said the Conservatives should renew their oft-stated commitment to support supply management at home and abroad.
“This is an opportunity for the government to demonstrate that support by standing with members of the Liberal opposition and ensure this legislation is brought forward, debated and passed by Parliament,” he said.
All parties see support for supply management as a key ingredient in their pitch for rural seats in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes in the next election.
Meanwhile, Bill Graham, the Toronto lawyer chosen to lead the Liberals until they elect a new leader in December, did his part by using his first question in the new Parliament April 5 to signal Liberal support for more farm aid.
He complained that the Conservative government’s throne speech outlining legislative themes contained little for agriculture despite the fact that a severe cash shortage had brought thousands of farmers to Parliament Hill demanding help.
“Most shocking is that our farm families face a crisis this spring (and) this is a throne speech that found barely any time for agriculture,” he said. “My question is for the prime minister. Why is the state of agriculture in our country not one of his government’s five priorities?”
Graham can be expected to return to the agricultural theme often in this Parliament.
Former agriculture minister Ralph Goodale sits beside him as opposition House leader and Easter is four seats away on the front bench in the Commons.
Last week, Graham announced that he has hired former agriculture minister Andy Mitchell, defeated in the last election, as his chief of staff.
