The Canadian Federation of Agriculture held its annual meeting in
Halifax Feb. 26-March 1. Western Producer reporter Barry Wilson filed
these stories. See pages 12, 23 & 103 for more coverage.
No decisions will be made about a new national agriculture policy
framework until there has been a massive consultation with farmers and
other food industry players, says agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief.
“Some are saying that decisions have already been made and it’s a done
deal,” he told delegates to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture
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annual meeting Feb. 28. “I want to assure you that’s not the case.”
Several times, the minister returned to the theme of consultation and
flattery, insisting at one point that the role of farm organizations
during the policy development “will be even more critical.”
CFA farm leaders saw it as recognition by a chastised Vanclief that he
had not included farmers enough before some proposed details of a new
national policy were presented to provincial ministers in Toronto in
January.
Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Jack Wilkinson said in an
interview the federal minister ran into problems with both farmers and
provincial ministers because of “zero consultation. He is trying to say
now that everything is on the table, nothing has been decided. That’s
good.”
Quebec farm leader Laurent Pellerin, who had criticized Vanclief for
what he saw as a lack of federal flexibility, praised him last week for
his promise to consult farmers before deciding anything.
“I heard you say words to us much more reassuring than we have heard
before,” he told the minister.
However, Vanclief’s promise that there will be scores of meetings and
workshops with farmers, food industry and consumer representatives over
the coming months also throws more doubt on whether a new safety net
system could be completed to replace the current agreement set to
expire March 31, 2003.
“They are starting out almost at square one in the political
decision-making on this five-year plan,” said Canadian Alliance
agriculture critic Howard Hilstrom. “He is in retreat, if not
revisiting his original decision that details are there to be pushed.”
Vanclief said one of the purposes of his appearance before the CFA was
to try to convince farmers that they have not been left out of the
process.
“I can tell you there’s been no decisions made,” said Vanclief. “That’s
one of the purposes, definitely. It’s not a done deal.”
However, he disputed a claim by some farm leaders that Ottawa plans a
250-meeting, $15 million consultation.
“It will not be $15 million,” scoffed the minister. “Way less.”
CFA president Bob Friesen said later Vanclief’s promise of consultation
helps ease farmer concerns: “There was a lot of mistrust.”
He said ministers should not rush into a new long-term deal. At the
same time, they must find a way to preserve the $500 million in annual
federal safety net funding that disappears March 31, 2003 if a new
agreement is not signed or the existing deal is not extended.
At one time, there was a suggestion a new agreement would be signed
next June in Halifax. Vanclief said it is important that farmers know
by the last half of this year what the rules will be for next year.
Now, he is vowing to work for an umbrella deal in Halifax that will
include agreement on goals and process, but no details.
