Farm leaders and opposition critics have slammed the federal Liberals for failing to announce a new farm aid program last week before the national election campaign began.
They said finance minister Paul Martin’s Oct. 18 mini-budget would have been a perfect time to respond to farm lobby demands for parity with the level of farm supports in the United States.
While announcing tens of billions of dollars in tax breaks, debt reduction and spending on health and education, Martin promised only that the government would keep watching the farm sector for signs of need.
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“Our agricultural sector and rural Canada generally face tremendous challenges,” the finance minister said in background documents published with his speech.
He said Canada will continue to condemn the subsidizing and trade-distorting policies of others.
“Looking ahead, the government will take into account and carefully monitor the impact of international developments on the economic prospects for Canada’s farmers.”
Agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief said that leaves room to announce more farm help later if it is needed.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, which has been campaigning for a provincial boost of $300 million and a national program of at least $1.5 billion, reacted immediately.
“Farmers have once again been left holding the bag, the empty bag,” vice-president Bill Mailloux said the day after the mini-budget. “Ontario farmers are historically reluctant to resort to militant actions to make their point but the mood is changing rapidly.”
Farmers unhappy
Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Bob Friesen from Manitoba said the Liberals missed a chance to diffuse an election issue.
“There is going to be tremendous disappointment that farmers were not helped specifically in the economic statement,” he said. “I believe farmers across the country will be making their displeasure known to MPs during the campaign.”
He said farmers across the country are demoralized by the lack of government response to their pleas for help. Friesen said the Liberals miscalculated if they think that waiting for an announcement during the election campaign will win them political points.
It is a theme Canadian Alliance agriculture critic Howard Hilstrom said he will be hammering home to farmers as he campaigns.
“My opinion is that the government should not be calling an election but should be using the year and a half it has left, and some of the surplus it has, to deal with the farm issue,” said the Manitoba MP.
“I think the government owes farmers more than an election promise,” said Hilstrom. “Why should farmers believe them when over seven years, the government has not delivered an acceptable farm safety net system?”
