As this editorial is being written, the federal election campaign is just
one week old, and much can happen between now and November 27. The following is a quick overview of agricultural
policies, or the lack thereof, of the various parties, and what we corn farmers can do to focus attention on agriculture’s
needs.
The Liberals appear to be running on their record and, thus far, have refused to commit any new funding to address
farm income problems for grain and oilseed farmers, or to bring Canadian support levels more in line with those
in the United States. Insiders say that, while there is good support among Liberal MPs (including urban MPs) for
“doing more” for farmers, Prime Minister Chrétien and/or his staff are not convinced. Paul Martin is reported
to be on side, even though agriculture was notably left out in his economic statement of October 18. Vanclief is
seeking more money for farmers but appears to lack clout, and is not very supportive of Market Revenue Insurance.
If farmers expect to hear any Liberal ag commitments during this election, it appears that they’ll have to apply
pressure to the Prime Minister directly. If the PM comes to your riding during the final campaign days, be sure
to be there and make your concerns heard.
Reasons for the Prime Minister’s refusal, to date, to recognize the need to provide additional funds to ensure
a level playing field for Ontario/Canadian grain farmers are unknown. It may be that favourable polls indicate
that he can win another majority mandate without making any more fiscal promises (i.e., beyond those already made,
such as $500 million in new federal funds for the Toronto waterfront). It may be that he fears no threat from the
Alliance Party on this issue (see below), and that it is more important for him to now position himself as a non-spender,
in light of Alliance attacks about Human Resources mismanagement and the need to reduce taxes/spending. It may
be the result of the fact that Mr. Vanclief’s efforts have gone almost exclusively into the poorly acclaimed national
disaster assistance programs. But the net result is most aggravating for desperate grain and oilseed farmers and
their families.
It must also be recognized that Prime Minister Chrétien has never shown much interest in agriculture and
farming. The PM has never met with Canadian farm leaders collectively for a serious discussion on issues. (The
previous prime minister did this regularly.) Mr. Chrétien did not even mention agriculture when he spoke
on a Waterloo County farm this past July.
Of course, there remains a chance that the PM will make an announcement during the campaign of major new assistance
to address the inequity with the U.S. But it won’t happen unless farmers make their wishes known, and known loudly,
during the current campaign.
The Canadian Alliance party has been eager to meet with Ontario farmers, but the party’s policies are very vague
on the issue of farm support. Answers to questions about equity with the U.S. are met with answers such as: “We’ll
have to study the issue to see what we can afford to do.” This is despite several detailed discussions with Howard
Hilstrom, Manitoba farmer and Alliance ag critic, about the grain and oilseed farm income situation. Not very reassuring.
Alliance leader Stockwell Day has had several opportunities to ‘clarify’ his position during the early campaign
- including once in Belleville when about a quarter of his speech was about agriculture - but his commitments to
date have been limited to non-specific phrases such as: “We’ll stand by Canadian farmers.”
However, even these words are more than what the Prime Minister has offered.
Alexa McDonough announced on October 27 that “the NDP will fight to double the federal contribution to income support
for Prairie farmers.” In her release she condemned AIDA, called for equity with U.S. grain farmers, and appeared
to use arguments similar to those presented to MPs (including the NDP) by Ontario farm groups in September. However,
to date, the NDP has said nothing about the needs of Ontario farmers, and probably considers rural Ontario to be
unfertile ground for winning new seats.
The Progressive Conservative Party has the agricultural policy most similar to the requests of Ontario grain and
oilseed groups. PC leader Joe Clark recently spoke in the House of Commons about the need to extend and enhance
the Market Revenue Insurance program for Ontario grain and oilseed farmers. Clark has met with Ontario farm leaders
in Ontario in recent months, and generally understands grain and oilseed income issues - thanks, perhaps, to his
days in cabinet when the last grain and oilseed farm income crisis occurred, and GRIP was introduced, in the late
1980s and early 1990s. The Progressive Conservative party has made an election commitment to provide $1.7 billion
in new funds for agricultural support. Though the amount falls far short of needs, and program details are vague,
this at least represents some new monetary commitment - something which the other parties have failed to do.
In reporting on Clark’s commitment for ag support, the Globe and Mail noted that this was a commitment to a minority
sector which represented relatively few votes.
But those votes and voices still count. Let’s make maximum use of them in the days remaining between now and November
27.
1