Trevor Atchison was enthused after listening to the thoughts of federal agriculture minister Bob Speller, who was in Brandon last week to deliver his views on a range of agricultural issues.
Atchison, a cattle producer from Pipestone, Man., said Speller spoke with conviction and sincerity and he drew rounds of applause from a crowd of several hundred producers who gathered to hear his speech at Manitoba Ag Days.
Atchison said he was also impressed that the minister took the time to visit Manitoba to hear producers’ views. Before and after his speech, Speller walked the halls of the Keystone Centre, where Ag Days was held.
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“Just the fact that he was here, I think would be the biggest thing,” said Atchison.
Speller updated producers on efforts to get international borders reopened to exports of Canadian live cattle. He also promised to work toward greater co-operation between the federal and provincial governments on agricultural issues, and he assured producers that the progress of the agricultural policy framework would be reviewed.
Speller emphasized a desire to see agriculture recognized as an industry of national importance. Betty Green, president of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association, shared Atchison’s favourable review of Speller.
The minister has shown he takes issues like BSE seriously and devotes time to dealing with them, she said. Green sees Speller as someone willing to consult with the farming community and someone who comes across as “very genuine.”
“I think it’s a good omen,” she said.
There was also praise from farm leader David Rolfe, a producer from Elgin, Man., and vice-president of Keystone Agricultural Producers.
“He’s making an effort to be very visible in Western Canada,” Rolfe said. “That in itself leads you to believe the federal government is paying more attention to Western Canada.”
