OTTAWA – The federal Liberal party, with a boost from prime minister Jean ChrŽtien, has committed itself to pursuing an activist rural development policy.
At its national convention last weekend, the party approved several rural resolutions that will increase pressure on ChrŽtien and the government to act.
There will be increased pressure for policies to promote rural investment, to implement a rural infrastructure program and perhaps, to appoint a minister for rural affairs.
ChrŽtien, who has said he considers himself a member of the Liberal rural caucus, finished the convention Oct. 27 by endorsing an activist rural policy heading into the next election.
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In his closing speech to more than 2,000 delegates, the prime minister noted that last summer, he had taken several trips to rural sites.
He lauded the party resolutions.
“The Liberal party and the Liberal government, we believe very strongly that everybody is Canadian and everybody should have a chance and they have not to live in big cities,” he said. “The quality of life and the survival of our rural parts is very important for the quality of life of all Canadians.”
The federal Liberal caucus had earlier signalled its support for a more active rural development policy by making a rural resolution the first priority of its resolutions to the convention.
The increased emphasis on rural policy comes as some Liberal strategists and MPs nervously wonder about the impact government subsidy cuts, rail-line abandonment and program reductions will have on Liberal candidates in rural ridings in the expected 1997 election.
The main resolution approved by the convention calls for federal policies to attract private and public investment into rural areas, diversification and infrastructure.
A companion resolution calls on Ottawa “to implement a second infrastructure program which places emphasis on transportation improvements.”
In a policy workshop, a resolution from caucus was approved calling on ChrŽtien to designate “a specific minister with responsibility for rural and remote Canada.”
And as a reflection of unease about the impact of government cuts on rural Canada, a workshop approved a Saskatchewan Liberal association demand that when reducing, relocating or concentrating services, no more changes be made “to the detriment of Saskatchewan.”
The emphasis on rural activism was part of a Liberal convention that tried to turn the corner from its three-year obsession with budget cutting.
There were resolutions to combat child poverty, to strengthen medicare and to enforce national standards for social programs.
One controversial resolution, approved 286-216 by delegates after a heated debate, calls on the government to force the banks to spend “a fair percentage” of their profits to create jobs in Canada.
The debate marked a clash between the business Liberals, who have controlled the party for three years, and the social activists. The social activists won.
Against free enterprise
“It (the proposal) basically undermines free enterprise,” complained Toronto-area MP Paul Szabo.
A New Brunswick youth delegate countered that the banks have been making billion dollar profits, often investing them abroad. “It is time we worked against that.”
Added longtime Toronto Liberal MP Charles Caccia: “In the absence of a better approach, this is a damn good resolution.”
But for all the talk about shifting attention from deficits to social programs and defence of the poor, there was no hint the Liberals will waiver in their fight to balance the books.
ChrŽtien mocked Reform leader Preston Manning, and his election pledge of a tax cut.
“Preston Manning is already spending the money we have saved,” he told delegates, to a standing ovation.
