David Marit handed out more bouquets at the 2007 Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention than a discount florist on Valentine’s Day.
SARM’s president heaped praise on the provincial and federal governments for their initiatives to improve the plight of rural people 10 times during his 30 minute speech.
It was an unusual tone for a group that is often critical of the higher levels of government, an indication that rural issues are gaining traction with the provincial NDP and the federal Conservatives as both parties face looming elections.
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“I don’t care what party it is, if they do some things in the right direction why not give them praise for it?” said Marit in a post-speech interview.
During his address to the 1,700 delegates and invited guests attending SARM’s 102nd annual convention, he gave kudos to the province for its recent announcement of a 10-year, $5 billion plan to improve Saskatchewan’s roads, railways and airports.
He applauded changes to the 2007 crop insurance program and said he was encouraged by last week’s announcement that the province would chip in for 10 percent of a national disaster assistance program.
Marit closed his speech with a special nod to government relations minister Harry Van Mulligen.
“The minister has shown a genuine appreciation for rural issues.”
His speech contained equally effusive praise for the federal Conservatives.
Marit said last week’s $1 billion assistance package with $600 million set aside for a Net Income Stabilization Account-style program is a step toward more effective income stabilization support and proof that the government is listening to farmers.
Last December’s biofuel announcement also made it onto his thank you list. He tipped his hat to the federal government for the $200 million program to encourage farmer participation in the industry and for the recent $10 million top up to the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative.
Following his speech, Marit speculated why rural issues are suddenly resonating with politicians in Regina and Ottawa.
On a provincial level he thinks the recently announced rural road infrastructure programs are the direct result of pressure from the oil industry, a sector that by the third quarter of 2006-07 had already contributed $1.2 billion in revenue to provincial coffers.
Federally, it has more to do with the Conservative’s minority government status and the powerful 12-person Saskatchewan caucus that includes national revenue minister Carol Skelton and secretary of state for small business and tourism Gerry Ritz.
“It is awful nice to be sitting and talking to them on issues for Saskatchewan that they can go to caucus and fight for,” said Marit.
Of course it doesn’t hurt that both levels of government could be heading to the polls in 2007 and buying a few votes along the way, he said.
Marit’s speech wasn’t a complete love fest.
SARM has concerns about proposed school closures, lingering education tax issues, the lack of a federal disaster assistance program, the unfair treatment of drought-stricken producers in the southwest and the ongoing rural infrastructure deficit.
