Changing of the Guard in Ottawa
A new executive was elected at the February annual convention
of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. With it may come a new style and new approaches.
There is no doubt of the value of a major national general farm organization. Ontario farmers have seen the need
for such at the provincial level, despite the existence of strong commodity groups and farm coalitions such as
the Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council (OACC). A general farm organization is needed to address issues – such
as tax policies, “right to farm” regulations, drainage and water rights, and hundreds of other such items – which
spread across all of agriculture, and which individual commodity groups are generally unwilling to tackle. This
is why the Ontario Corn Producers’ Association was a solid supporter of efforts by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
and Christian Farmers’ Federation of Ontario to secure stable funding a few years ago.
The same need exists federally. And while no national group has the breadth of coverage enjoyed by the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture (OFA) provincially, the closest is the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). There
are similarities. Both groups are “federations” of other groups. The OFA is a partnership of county federations
and provincial commodity groups. CFA members are provincial federations or their equivalents (all provinces except
Saskatchewan), and some national commodity groups. Both the OFA and CFA have some cooperatives as members.
The two organizations, however, are very different in how they operate.
The secret to success for the OFA in recent years has been in its willingness – indeed, eagerness – to work cooperatively
with other farm groups including those who are not OFA members. OFA executive and staff members are active participants
at meetings of the Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council, even though the OFA is not a formal member of OACC.
The OFA or its individual officers are often asked by the OACC to take the lead on certain issues. The reverse
has occurred too. The OFA took the lead, two years ago, on the Farmers of Ontario initiative. The OFA has often
asked commodity reps or staff to represent the federation on key provincial or national initiatives.
Perhaps most important of all, the OFA has been willing to act as one among equals in such ventures, often understating
its role and not insisting on being the “most important” – a key reason why the OFA is generally held in high regard
by Ontario farm commodity groups, even those who are not OFA members.
Hopefully, the new leadership in Ottawa will spend some time in Ontario observing the relationship between the
OFA and other farm groups in Ontario. CFA executives would be welcome guests at OACC meetings. Indeed, the Ontario
experience is not that unique. Similar close working-sharing relationships between commodity groups and the federations
of agriculture, or their equivalents, exist in other provinces. In British Columbia, the provincial “federation”
is, in fact, a body very similar in structure to the OACC in Ontario. And commodity or special sector groups represent
half of the membership of the board of directors of the Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA) in Quebec.
We’d welcome a national general farm organization eager to partner as an equal with other groups, even those who
are not CFA members or affiliates, including those who may have major differences of opinion with CFA or its members
on certain policy matters. CFA is not a rich organization and could strengthen its effectiveness by drawing more
readily on the staff and research resources of other national or provincial groups, and by avoiding the temptation
to duplicate the efforts of others – even if the issue is “hot” at the national level. Improved communication and
consultation at the local (provincial) level on policy initiatives would also be a plus.
Indeed, the CFA may well be at a crossroad in its efforts to improve its effectiveness and broaden its base.
Good luck to the new president, Bob Friesen of Manitoba, and his executive.
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