CALL him a coward, or worse. Jean ChrŽtien hid behind numbers conjured by a statistician rather than face people who journeyed across the country to share the realities of the farm crisis.
ChrŽtien’s abhorrent behavior when a delegation of politicians and farm leaders visited Ottawa last week shows how out of touch he is with Western Canada, and how little he cares.
He seems to see the farm crisis as a pesky little problem he can swat away; a minor concern compared to proposed airline mergers, pepper spray allegations and a huge employment equity settlement.
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But be prepared. Westerners have long memories, Sir. Just ask Mr. Trudeau.
Politicians from various parties, farm leaders from ideologically opposite groups and farmers from various locations set aside their differences for a common purpose.
After a painful struggle with weather, low prices and subsidy wars, they approached ChrŽtien in one of the most diplomatic, organized ways they could: as a united delegation with a specific request: $1.3 billion a.s.a.p.
They also wanted to educate those on Parliament Hill, share human stories and give faces to the statistics.
Instead, ChrŽtien dedicated his 75 minutes of meeting time to argue with premiers Roy Romanow and Gary Doer that he had new numbers proving farm income was improving, and the farm crisis was not so serious. He failed to supply these numbers.
New, adjusted income projections were expected after harvest. But ChrŽtien must look at their context. More grain and higher quality doesn’t necessarily mean more money for farmers.
The Canadian Wheat Board reported weakening world wheat prices in its October pool return outlook. And even if net farm income is projected to be $100 to $150 million for 1999, that is a sharp drop from an average of $690 million annually from 1993-97.
While ChrŽtien suggests committees, more meetings and more studies of the numbers, Romanow and Doer have invited ChrŽtien to visit the West and meet some real farmers, hear their stories, and try to understand the human side of agriculture.
But be prepared, Mr. ChrŽtien, because farmers won’t mince words.
Said one recent letter to Lyle Vanclief: “You’re killing all the farmers and me. The prices and grain don’t grow on trees! … We work our buts (sic) off and what do you do, nothing! … You come and work your butt off and we’ll just go drink hot chocolate. And then we will see who’s laughing. Go to America and get your bread and pasta.”
The writer? Andrew Horner – a Grade 4 student from Creelman, Sask.
Remember, Sir. Long memories.
Terry Fries, Barb Glen, Allan Laughland, D’Arce McMillan and Elaine Shein collaborate in the writing of Western Producer editorials.
