On Nov 5, 2009, Leza Matheson-Wolters from Seaside Farms in Prince Edward Island sat before MPs on the House of Commons agriculture committee to tell her sad story.
It was a harrowing tale about trying to survive in a hog market that was paying her farm 95 cents for a kilogram of pork that cost $1.55 to produce. With a voice sometimes breaking and eyes tearing up, she told MPs she and her husband were considering applying for exit money but it would end a life’s dream.
“If I do that (exit) program, I exit,” she said. “I’m done and I lose my restaurant because I am a personal guarantee. I will lose my home that I’ve had since we were 23. I lose everything.”
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As Matheson-Wolters spoke, at least four of the 12 MPs on the committee sat hunched over their Blackberries, sending or receiving e-mails and text messages, appearing oblivious to the story being told.
Later, several MPs complimented her on the courage it took to speak publicly about a painful private story. The response would have seemed more genuine if all MPs had shown her the respect of paying attention.
Of course, they were not singling out the P.E.I. farmer for what some witnesses have complained privately is disrespect. Some committee members do it consistently and others not at all.
Last week, an influential farm lobby group called out the offending MPs, publicly lamenting the way witnesses are treated at committee.
Alberta farmer Doug Robertson, president of Grain Growers of Canada, sent a letter to all members of the committee asking them to show more respect and attention when farmers make presentations at the committee’s invitation.
He particularly complained about Blackberry use and partisan arguments that break out while witnesses sit, watching the minutes tick away.
“In some of our recent appearances last fall, we have noticed a couple of issues, increasing use of Blackberries during witness testimony and increasing lack of civility towards members of other political parties,” Robertson wrote.
Farmers often lose two days off the farm to make their points directly to the politicians. He said the least they could do is pay attention.
“We would like to strongly encourage all members of the standing committee to refrain from Blackberries, set aside partisan disputes, listen to the presentations, question witness and challenge our thoughts and ideas,” he wrote. “It is disheartening for us when substantial work has gone into preparing presentations to see people on their Blackberries.”
As they would say in the House of Commons, hear hear! It is about time members were called out for their behaviour on what has become a deeply divided committee that even some members have called the most dysfunctional in Parliament.
Grain Growers of Canada was the first lobby group to summon the courage to publicly criticize activities but scores of other witnesses will be nodding in agreement.
It would be helpful if they publicly joined the “civility and respect in politics” campaign.
Perhaps some MPs would get the message and look in the mirror.
