Buckley Belanger believes farmers know best.
“I don’t profess to know the agriculture sector better than them,” said the Saskatchewan MLA for Athabasca. “We need to examine the role of government.”
Belanger, 40, a former Liberal MLA who resigned and was re-elected as a New Democrat, said governments should assist farmers, not control them.
“We all know what needs to be done,” he said. “We should give them the tools and leave the how to their imagination and their spirit.”
Belanger said rural Saskatchewan will be revitalized through partnerships. He subscribes to the “fourth way” of governance, which includes formal alliances with partners like the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities to make decisions.
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“I can see that without partnering we have very little opportunity for growth,” he said.
Belanger’s strategy for rural revitalization includes spending money to look at agroforestry, organic farming, agri-tourism and other opportunities, including a stronger livestock industry.
He said agroforestry could eliminate pressure on natural forest stands and assist in storing carbon. Farmers would benefit through lease payments from forestry companies.
He has been quoted as saying he would like to put a halt to the construction of large hog operations but said that is not true. As environment minister, he is concerned that not enough is known about the effects of intensive livestock operations on the environment.
“I can appreciate the standards they have within the operations.”
But he thinks the industry will grow even larger if some concerns could be laid to rest.
