Western Manitoba farmer George Graham asked farm leaders from Saskatchewan and Alberta about the background of their agriculture ministers.
Both replied they were farmers.
“You have no idea how lucky you are,” said Graham, causing a ripple of laughter through the Keystone Agricultural Producers’ annual convention during a session with prairie farm leaders.
“We have a school teacher.”
Graham also noted that there are no active farmers in the governing NDP’s caucus.
The nagging worries and annoyance of many Manitoba farmers about Manitoba agriculture minister Stan Struthers’ suitability and competence were discussed at coffee breaks and around the downtown Winnipeg hotel where the convention was held.
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Struthers is one of few NDP members who are from outside Winnipeg. His Dauphin riding contains both the town and the farmland around it.
When Rosann Wowchuk was promoted to finance minister last fall, Struthers was moved into agriculture from the provincial environment portfolio, where he shepherded Bill 17 through the legislature. It banned new hog barn construction in the Red River Valley.
Struthers spoke to the convention and was treated hospitably, but Graham’s comment highlighted the simmering anger and lingering questions many farmers have.
Struthers was the target of one resolution that would have had the effect of embarrassing Struthers, by suggesting he doesn’t understand agriculture. Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was the target of a similar resolution.
Both were overwhelmingly rejected by KAP delegates, who have a tradition of working with governments and attempting to have good relations.
“This is not the way to open doors on Broadway (Avenue),” said former KAP president Weldon Newton in urging members to reject the resolutions.
Struthers made few promises to farmers. He warned them that the government faced a funding crunch because of a looming deficit, that the government was considering banning crop residue burning, that it was sticking with its plan to run a power line across western Manitoba farmland rather than down the largely uninhabited east side of Lake Winnipeg, and that the Alternative Land Use Services program is unlikely to receive much funding.
After his speech, Struthers told reporters that he thought farmers could help heal the urban-rural divide by communicating more.
“I think we have to tell our stories,” said Struthers.
He denied that the effect of Bill 17 was to make the hog industry appear to be the cause of Lake Winnipeg’s water pollution problems.
“Our intention was never to say that farmers are the problem of Lake Winnipeg,” said Struthers.
“Everybody is part of the problem.”
He said farmers want to make good environmental decisions.
“I still think that agriculture ministers should be participating in making good environmental decisions. I’m not going to be part of a group that paints farmers into a corner.”
