Manitoba’s new premier is coining some original words of interest to farmers at a time when many of them might feel control over their livelihood is slipping.
Brian Pallister talked about “rurban” and “urbal” with rural news reporters following his Progressive Conservative Party’s win in the provincial election. He wants urban MLAs who care about rural areas and rural MLAs who care about Winnipeg.
Manitoba’s Prairie neighbours, Sask-atchewan and Alberta also held elections in the past year.
The results changed little in Saskatchewan but there was seismic change in Alberta with the New Democratic Party winning power for the first time thanks mostly to big gains in urban areas.
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All governments are elected based on their agendas, but once in power they are expected to govern for the benefit of all.
Almost all MLAs go about their work with good intentions, hoping to improve the lot of their constituents. But like all of us, they are creatures of their upbringing, education and environment.
The solutions they seek to address problems, and even what they identify as problems, are based on their point of view.
And it is easy to miss the views of others with different experiences.
The urbanization of Canada means our legislatures are increasingly filled with city-raised people who have little or no first-hand knowledge of rural life.
That is why we applaud Premier Pallister’s intention to have a caucus that understands the needs of the whole province – rural and urban.
This is important as the public’s interest grows in how food is produced.
The recent controversy over Earls’ desire to buy and serve only antibiotic- and growth promotant-free Certified Humane Beef is a case in point.
The restaurant chain believed it could tap into a loyal and growing, mostly urban customer base by serving beef from cattle certified as humanely raised.
It said it could not get what it needed from Canadian ranchers, although producers here knew there was more than enough beef that met the criteria, although not formally certified as such.
Following a backlash, Earls president admitted the company made a mistake, stated “Earls is listening” and would henceforth work with Canadian producers to source the type of beef it wants.
Earls was making a commercial decision and the market passed judgment. That is the way of free enterprise.
Our concern rises when governments use their regulatory and law-making powers to directly or indirectly force farmers to produce food in a particular manner.
Groups are lobbying governments all the time to introduce animal rights, environmental and food labeling laws.
And farmers will also feel the impact as governments roll back production of greenhouse gases to address climate change.
If governments — politicians and bureaucrats — fail to consult with, listen to and be guided by the farmers affected by these initiatives, mistakes will be made, businesses and lives will be hurt and social divides will widen.
There is a better way.
Every decision maker should get out into the countryside to learn the country’s side of the issues that divide us.
