A NEW session of Parliament has begun, bringing with it fresh opportunities for farmers to present their shopping list of needs and dreams. It also brings fresh hopes that this time agriculture concerns will be heard.
The minority status of the Liberal government seems likely to bring more focus to bear on western issues, particularly those affecting agriculture and rural residents.
The opposition Conservative party made a good start last week when leader Stephen Harper called the trade and income problems facing agriculture a “national emergency.” He criticized the Liberals for failing to mention agriculture as a priority in the throne speech and he was the sole party leader to cite agricultural issues as key problems facing the country.
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Another sign that agriculture is making headway on the national agenda was seen in the emergency debate begun Oct. 7. It demonstrates that agricultural issues are worthy of debate and that agriculturally inclined MPs are pushing their way onto the agenda.
Welcome news also came just before Parliament reopened, when Liberal MP Wayne Easter was tasked to look into the problem of perpetually low farm incomes and figure out solutions.
While such an assignment seems ridiculously overdue, the Liberals are finally getting around to it. Easter, a former solicitor general who doesn’t shy from criticizing government, should be able to communicate the plight of farmers to the upper echelons of power in Ottawa.
Review of the agricultural policy framework is another positive development. It is slated to begin soon and seek farmer opinions on needed improvements, particularly to safety nets. MPs must ensure the work continues until such plans adequately provide the intended income stabilization.
As an added bonus, government appears closer to acknowledging that the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization plan cannot provide enough aid in all situations. Federal minister Andy Mitchell agreed that additional emergency aid is sometimes necessary, a striking contrast to the attitude of former minister Lyle Vanclief.
At the top of cattle producers’ lists is a hope that government addresses the BSE crisis by encouraging new domestic meat packers and continues to pressure the United States and other foreign governments to reopen their borders to Canadian cattle. BSE aid programs offer some assistance but only a resumption of normal trade can cure livestock industry problems over the long haul.
As well, this Parliament must undertake to ensure that future trade deals help Canadian farmers. It sounds obvious, but there is little evidence that past trade deals have improved rural lives.
All of this represents an ambitious shopping list, but one we believe to be realistic and deserved by farmers.
