Agriculltural Platforms

[rsomer]

No political party is going to help the situation if we don't help ourselves.

I simply will not accept that all the Beef Industry Knowledge was represented at the ABP semi annual in Edmonton. And a lot less is represented in any political platform.

I say good on the folks in Manitoba, and good on the MCPA. Listening to the people is the only way any governing body succeeds. Good on the Japanese.
Shame on the ABP and Shirley McLellan for being so defensive, and negative about a group of people trying to bring the message from the people.

[grassfarmer]

At the political event in Rimbey last Sunday we had Bob Speller come along to support the local Liberal candidate who happens to be a young, first time politician who is in a family feedlot operation nearby. The reason he is standing is that he wanted to get a voice in Government hoping to raise the profile of agriculture - fair enough ideals but it looks like bad timing as the Liberals seem destined to be in opposition anyway - maybe he should have stood as a Conservatives and that way he would get more farm votes. Hearing the garbage that Speller spouted it's clear a vote for the Liberals is a waste of time - sadly it looks like a vote for any political party based on their Ag policies, specifically dealing with the BSE issue, is a waste of time. Personally I would never vote for a one issue candidate or party as it is a misuse of democracy. Interesting election but I've not been here long enough to qualify for the vote yet!

[cakadu]

Cowman, I have the same MP that you do and quite frankly, I don't want a "dud" representing me. I also don't want to pin all my hopes on one man because my MP may not be able to do me any good.

I don't want to vote for one person based on what I think the leader might do. I want to know what that person will do for me as his/her constituent. I agree with grassfarmer that a one trick pony is not the way to go.

It is very sad to see how little agriculture is on the radar screen. Now, if we had $11/barrel oil, then you might see some action.

[cowman]

Linda: I hate to bust your bubble of hope but no matter who you vote for Bob Mills is going to be your representative. I guarantee it!
Now you might say why vote then? Or you might like to register a protest vote? That is your right, but it won't change anything...which is probably why there is so much darned apathy in this country?
I like the idea of total numbers equal number of seats sort of thing but then who am I? This is the system we work under. Perhaps your worst nightmare might be the person who represents you? My own thoughts are you have to look at the big picture? Do you want things to stay the same...the scandals, the thefts, the corruption? Or do you think we maybe deserve better?
Now Harper might not be any better...maybe he will be way worse! But at least he might be different? If you vote for a thief, or for that matter toss your vote and let the thief back in then you really do deserve to get robbed?

[pandiana]

Here is the agriculture portion of the ND platform. I would like to see the Liberal and Conservative specifics if anyone can find them.

. Establishing stable safety net programs to protect family farms from unexpected drops in income caused by natural disasters and adverse trade rules.
. Recognizing the devastating impact of American domestic support and European export subsidies and increasing funding for Canadian farm families until a level playing field can be re-established internationally.
.Ensuring tht federal help to farmers as a result of trade decisions does not depend on relief from cash-strapped provincial governments.
. Promoting an agriculture policy that preserves what Canadian farmer have created to protect themselves, including the Canadian Wheat Board and supply management in dairy and poultry.
. Working toward sustainable agriculture outcomes that will help reduce input costs for pesticides, herbicides and fuel, which are largely paid by Canadian farmers to multinational corporations.
. Improving food safety through better identification, increased testing and more public inspection to make Canadian-produced food the most trusted in the world.
. Immediately banning all animal-to-animal feed.
. Enacting a moratorium on genetically modified wheat to protect Canadian export markets and supporting mandatory labelling of GM food at home.
. Recognizing the danger that climate change presents to farm families' income and aggressively reducing Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.
. Providing incentives to increase value-added processing and packing plants to create jobs for people living in rural Canada.

www.ndp.ca platform p 48-49

[cakadu]

Cowman, I don't doubt for a moment that he will get back in again. Am I happy about it - no. Will I vote for him just because he is going to be the one to get in - an absolute no. Call my vote a throw-away one if you want, but that is the way it is.

What if you're wrong that it is going to be any different with a bunch of new faces in there?

I agree with some of the others in other threads - there has never been a harder time to vote because there is no real choice out there. At least that's the way it seems in the years I've been old enough to vote.