THE saga of federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief and western farmers continues. It reminds me of the story of Little Red Riding Hood.
Little Red (Vanclief) went to visit grandma (farmers) who turned out to be a wolf and attacked her (him).
The difference, of course, is that Little Red’s basket was full of good things while Vanclief came with an empty basket and there was some justification for the wolf attacking.
As the fairy tale goes, Little Red met a woodsman who slew the wolf, restored grandma to life and she and Little Red lived happily after.
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One can only wonder, in our real life tale, who Vanclief can find to play the woodsman who will restore harmony. Paul Martin and the federal treasury?
It’s going to take a woodsman with a mighty big axe to slay this wolf and restore some harmony on the agriculture front between Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the feds.
Vanclief hasn’t exactly been the soul of tact and discretion in dealing with the farmers and the governments of the two provinces. “Ham-fisted” is the way the Saskatoon StarPhoenix put it.
That paper, in an editorial titled Farmers need more PR savvy to win support, says “While city folk may see the nutritional message being conveyed in those cereal advertisements in which the farmer is left helpless while his corn field is sucked down, through the ground and directly onto the retailer’s shelf, farmers see an economic message: the farmer standing in barren fields, left with empty pockets. This has long been the cases in countries with a cheap food policy.
“However, this year’s crisis is the result of an accumulation of years of depressed prices caused by the international subsidy war. Farmers have found it almost impossible to set enough aside to carry them through periods of bad weather.”
The editorial concludes that, despite desperation on the part of many, “there is nothing to be gained by unseemly displays such as nearly roughing up the federal agriculture minister or breaking into and disrupting meetings.” Hard lobbying is the answer, the editorial says.
The StarPhoenix is right but it’s hard to be gracious when the bill collector is at the door and the bank account is empty.
All the solutions are for the future: a long-term plan expected for next year and upcoming world trade negotiations.
The wolf gets hungrier and meaner.
One wonders if Little Red couldn’t go home to mother to have just a little something put in that basket.
