Signs of the Times - End to an indirect farm subsidy

One of the first things that Prime Minister Harper will probably implement in his new government is an end to the approximately $2 per vote subsidy.  This subsidy is intended to give a more equal footing to all political parties.  It enables a budget for election campaign materials and expenses regardless of how poor or rich the party is.  It allows for the purchase of materials such as signs, which are often collected and saved in anticipation of another election.    Some have been eagerly re-purposed after the election for another use entirely. A popular use for the wire-framed plastic bag signs is as a frame for floating remay covers. A clever use for the vote subsidy, amounting to an indirect farm subsidy for some.  Sometimes the user asks permission - sometimes they are eagerly collected before the weary election team has time to get them. And don't even think about taking them before election day or you may be subject to a hefty $1,000 fine or 3 months in jail, or both.  In any case, once the party coffers are depleted when the subsidy is no more, no doubt greater efforts will be made to discourage pilfering of the signs so that they can be used again in the next election

Canadian Election Outcome for Agriculture

The excitement of the federal election behind us, we have to wonder what the impact will be on agriculture in Canada. With a majority government, the Conservatives will be able to meet their goals with apparent ease – which does not bode well for the Canadian Wheat Board, or maybe even supply management. Although the government has maintained its support for supply management through the world trade negotiations, many wonder how long that will last. There have been attempts by the Conservatives to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board in the past and with a majority government it is generally thought that this will become a reality. Opponents to this argue that the farmer-led board and the farmer members should be deciding the fate of the CWB. The Conservative emphasis on trade and markets will benefit Canada's farmers who export their products and those farmers who appreciate the businesslike certainty of a Conservative majority. The scrapping of the long gun registry was an election promise that was made to rural farmers and ranchers who maintain that guns are important to predator control, and the Conservatives argue the registry was too expensive to justify.

With an NDP opposition, supported by the few Liberals and Bloc who were elected, and the lone Green MP from home, there will be a voice for food security for our nation, the importance of local and regional food economies, and a merging of agricultural needs with the health and environmental needs of Canadians. Hopefully this voice will be unified, strong and convincing so that the Conservative government will move forward in a positive direction.

The real work will be done by those members of parliament who focus on the agriculture portfolio. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz held onto his seat with a large majority in western Saskatchewan. However, the federal minister of state for agriculture, Jean-Pierre Blackburn, lost in his Quebec riding to the NDP. Minister Ritz's two parliamentary secretaries from Ontario, Pierre Lemieux and David Anderson, were both re-elected. Anderson has been secretary on the Canadian Wheat Board file since 2006.

Now the official opposition, the NDP will again have Alex Atamanenko in Ottawa as MP for BC Southern Interior and the NDP critic on agriculture. Atamanenko acknowledges that his job will be more prominent but also more difficult. He wants to see a Canadian food strategy become a reality – something he has worked on for the last two years. He is also dedicated to ensuring that more genetically modified organisms are not introduced and that cattle producers are helped. Atamanenko had introduced a private members bill that did not pass – Bill C-474, that was an amendment to the seed regulations ‘to require that an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale of any new genetically engineered (GE) seeds are permitted.’ Atamanenko's deputy agriculture critic, Ontario MP Malcolm Allen was re-elected, along with Winnipeg MP and CWB critic Pat Martin.

The Liberal's agriculture critic since 2006 and former parliamentary secretary for agriculture, Wayne Easter, won in a tight race in Prince Edward Island. Ralph Goodale, former agriculture minister and the only Liberal in Saskatchewan was re-elected.

The Bloc Quebecois agriculture critic Andre Bellavance was re-elected in a very tight race, one of four Bloc members to hold onto their seats.

The Agriculture Committee itself is essentially intact with Ontario Conservative farmer and rancher Larry Miller returning as committee chairman. Nova Scotia Liberal Mark Ayking and Quebec Bloc Bellavance return as the two committee co-chairs. Along with Atamanenko, Easter and Lemieux there are other returning members including Conservatives Randy Hoback, Bev Shipley, Brian Storseth, Blake Richards and Liberal's Frank Valeriote. Bloc member France Bonsant lost his riding to a NDP challenger and will not return.

How agriculture is affected with a Conservative majority is somewhat predictable. A generation ago one out of every three people were associated with farming, now it is closer to one in every fifty people – giving farmers less of a voice. And agriculture in Canada is so varied – with major export markets and vital local markets. We can cross our fingers and hope things turn out - as the saying goes, the proof will be in the pudding.

Food and Agriculture Policy platform of federal parties with a BC perspective-CBC.ca | B.C. Almanac -

CBC.ca | B.C. Almanac

click here for podcast then scroll 1/3 of the way into the broadcast (past the obligatory hockey banter)

Candidates in BC talk about agriculture on CBC BC Almanac, April 26th 1 pm.
Ed Fast (Conservative from Abbotsford), Renee Hetherington (Liberal from Saanich-Gulf Islands), Alex Atamanenko (NDP- Southern Interior) and Brennan Wauters (Green from West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky) answer questions from farmers around BC who called in.
Garnet Etsell, Chair of BC Ag Council, started the ball rolling by speaking for all farmers and their need for an agriculture that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable.
Dayna Chapman, co chair of BC Food Systems network, spoke on the health and environmental issues related to agriculture, as well as the income issues for farmers.
Main platforms:
NDP - Alex Atamanenko - ag critic for NDP - main task is for farmers to make a living and produce good clean food.  Canadian Food Strategy in line with Liberals, Canadian Federation of Agriculture - need people to put heads together. NDP are concerned about the decline in prices with increased trade. NDP recognize that young farmers can't justify farming as a career when their parents are unable to make a viable living farming.
Green Party - Brennan Wauters - basic stance is all economic activity is predicated on a healthy environment.
Climate change, encouraging young people, local agriculture, organic and urban agriculture are to be encouraged to secure food production in Canada and impact our health care system. Greens want to see a way to get young farmers on the land.
Conservatives - Ed Fast - Abbotsford has largest farm gate income in Canada - need to find markets for our food products and ensure it is sustainable economically, socially and ecologically. The government has supported loans to young farmers and cooperatives, and have a suite of farm programs to assist farmers.
Liberals - Renee Hetherington - a former rancher and director of BC Cattlemen Assn, she recognizes problems in maintaining a viable farm income. Liberals also recognize that the declining farm income is the main reason young people find it difficult to get into farming.  The Liberal platform wants to support farmers by listening to them and taking a bottom-up approach. Liberals believe it is important to listen to farmers so programs are tailored to the farmer's needs. Liberals were the first to bring in a National Food Strategy. Renee is also a research scientist, who is willing to work at the policy level to address climate change issues.