Speller's out, now what?

[15444]

Well, Bob Speller failed to keep his seat tonight, losing it to a Conservative candidate. I guess the big question is, now what? Martin had his hopes pinned on Speller being the ag minister to right the wrongs of that former poor excuse for a minister.

So who steps up now? Liberals barely got any candidates elected out West. Guess we should be expecting another Liberal from Ontario to step into the ag file, but who? Also, watch how fast Martin gets somebody in and focused on the ag file as it will be a big headache for the entire government come this fall!

[rusty1]

here comes ANNIE

[cakadu]

Rusty --- bite your tongue!!! :-)

[farmerfudd]

It's time to start to put more preasure her way. It may be our closest lifeline in some rough waters.

[kato]

I for one liked Bob Speller. And I'm not afraid to say it, Liberal or not. He was the only Ag minister I can remember who actually seemed to know we were out here.

When is the last time a federal ag minister walked into an auction mart in Western Canada?

Never, as far as I can remember.

Even though he couldn't get the border open for us before the election, I always had the feeling that he was really trying to do it.

A politician who actually takes his job seriously and works for those who are depending on him, instead of for himself first is a rare thing indeed.

He will be missed.

As for his replacement, they'd better get on it fast. This is not the time to be without some direction from the government!

[rusty1]

kato - I'm suprised! Any cabinetwit minester who has the gal to get up during in the crisus and predict the border will open in August, has no common sence or professionalizm. Even if he knows it will open then he had no business saying that without guarantee.

[cswilson]

I suppose he could appoint Ralph Goodale.

[kato]

And Lyle VanClief was better?

He out and out told us to take a hike!

At least Speller showed an interest. I think anything he said to us was on directions from above. One thing the Liberal party has, it's control over what it's ministers can and cannot say. If you talked to him next week, I bet you'd get a different story.

[kato]

I bet it's going to be Goodale as well.

[Incognito]

Not on your life will it be Goodale. Finance minister to Agriculture Minister??? He will stay on as Finance Minister....He is a close personal friend of PM PM...they share a cabin and condo together. No demotion in these cards... and Finance is too important to have two portfolios...

[blackjack]

kato... I agree with you in that at least Speller was attempting to reach out to western Canadian farmers than past ag. ministers... its to bad for him Veneman could not get the border open ... if you guys want to jump all over him for saying that the border will open up well he wasn't the only one ...King Ralph has said the same thing several times...

[blackjack]

What about this David Kilgour fellow from Edmonton? He has shown a bit of interest in this BSE issue.

[whiteface]

Like it's up to any of us to elect an ag minister, but I suppose we could try pressure tactics on our just "so concerned about us, brand new prime minister" yeah right, I'm closer than I've ever been to just shooting the cows that I really do like so much and then hating my life getting a job (flipping) and selling overpriced burgers at our local Dairy Queen. No bother trying to make any money since Martin and Layton would tax the hell out of me if I did and then hand it over in welfare payments to beef farmers to shut them up while they do nothing to help the situation for those producers. Sorry for the sarcasm guys, and thanks for letting me grip, that election last night was a huge letdown for me.

[cowman]

Well I doubt it will be David Kilgour...I doubt he would know which end of the cow to feed or which end of the scoop shovel to use when shovelling the grain!
I suspect Ralph would be good...after all he should have some sort of clue? And he rocked in his riding! But yea, that would be a big demotion from finance and I doubt anyone really gives one rip about agriculture anyway?
I mean lets be realistic...no party ever even basically mentioned ag, right? We truly have become a real non-issue?
As our lives go down the drain we need to realize this...nobody cares? FACT!

[cowman]

By the way I liked Speller! He seemed to give a rip! In a perverse way I can be happy for him...he is out of the garbage and can maybe refocus on farming.
Politics in Canada is not something that can do much for your soul?