Peacock is a farmer from Sexsmith, Alta., who ran for the New Democrats in the last provincial election.
The major function of any government is to protect the common good. As citizens it is our responsibility in a democratic society to ensure that those we elect to serve us uphold this trust and hold them accountable when they do not.
Given the direction our federal government has been taking, it would certainly appear that they have forgotten this rule.
In all aspects of our society and economy, the common good seems to have been put aside in favor of business interests.
Read Also
Worrisome drop in grain prices
Prices had been softening for most of the previous month, but heading into the Labour Day long weekend, the price drops were startling.
We have a government that refuses to take large oil companies to task for the speculative pricing on oil at the pump. No one here believes that a hurricane in the U.S. has any effect on our oil supply or security; it is simply unchecked greed that is the driver. Free markets simply do not exist. In the absence of free markets you need regulation to protect the common good.
If you look at the problems in agriculture, they show a lack of commitment by our government to defend the common good.
At stake here are not only thousands of family farms but also the food safety, security and sovereignty of our nation. No one in government seems to be all that concerned about this crisis. The public should be very concerned when we have surrendered our food supply to a few transnational corporations.
Through the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization, it would appear that our government has capitulated to transnational corporations, completely forgetting their duty to the citizens of Canada and the upholding of the public trust.
Rural Canada is most affected by the lack of government performing its primary function of protecting the public trust. Rural Canada is dying, not because of economic reality but because of the government’s unwillingness or willful disregard for communities and citizens. Government’s duty is to provide rules or enforce existing laws that guarantee a fair market for rural commodities.
Apparently government’s and businesses’ view of citizens is first they are consumers, second they are labour and third citizens.
It is time that we start to hold our elected officials accountable to do their primary job, which is protecting the common good. Our earliest opportunity is Oct. 14.
