Farmers in Ontario are receiving the most political attention they have attracted in years.
A provincial election is possible as early as this spring after the minority Liberals present their first budget and important politicians are lining up to swear their fidelity to all things rural.
New Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne, an urban activist from Toronto, had earlier named herself the government’s agriculture minister with a vow to try to reclaim former Liberal strongholds in the countryside for a party that is now largely urban based.
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Last week, it was Tim Hudak’s turn.
The Progressive Conservative leader is perceived to be the front-runner to become premier, according to the polls, so there he was, front and centre as the PCs released their Paths To Prosperity, Respect for Rural Ontario policy paper.
It begins with a full-page photo and then the leader’s claim to his rural connection and respect for agriculture as a research, economic and technology-leading sector.
“It seems that the current government needs a reminder of the importance of agriculture,” he said.
“After all, it rivals the size of Ontario’s auto sector.”
Hudak represents a Niagara-area riding, “where agriculture is the largest industry,” he wrote.
“I’ve seen how our wineries, greenhouses, farms and research facilities have embraced new technologies over the years, reaching out to markets across Canada.”
The NDP have yet to join the rural bandwagon, but an election campaign will likely change that.
What’s going on?
Clearly, rural Ontario holds a lot of seats in the Ontario legislature, and the loss of several of those seats in last year’s election over issues such as wind turbines cost the Liberals their majority.
However, like the federal Liberal party, the Ontario version has largely been abandoned by rural Canada — or abandoned it, depending on who is doing the analysis.
It is difficult to imagine that much of the vast space between Ontario cities really is at play, but Wynne appears to be ready to give it her best shot, appearing at rural events and speaking about her commitment to rural issues, including local food.
The budget this spring will tell the tale, but to date, there have been few specifics.
However, all parties have committed to continue funding for the province’s $100 million Risk Management Program, which was started by the Liberals but shunned by the federal Conservatives.
Last week’s PC policy paper is not an election platform but it did make some promises: reducing subsidies for wind turbines, setting a provincial biofuel mandate, reducing bureaucracy and forms and supporting an Ontario Food Act that includes more emphasis on local food.
“In order to succeed, our farmers and food processors need the right environment with lower taxes, more skilled labour and less red tape,” wrote agriculture critic Ernie Hardeman.
For Ontario farm leaders, all this attention is a dream that some of their colleagues elsewhere can only imagine.
It is their chance to make it clear to politicians on all sides what they need.
And then it will be their job to make sure the promises are kept once the votes are counted, no matter who wins.
