Agriculltural Platforms

[pandiana]

I was given a query sent to all three of the major political parties by a friend. With her permission, I will quote it as follows:
"I ask the same question of you that I have asked all electoral parties. What do you plan to do about the agriculture industry? I am a beef farmer in Alberta who has gone from selling a breeding bull for $3000 to selling similar breeding bulls for $300 since the BSE crisis and the border closure. I am far from being alone in this, and I want to know what the NDP plan to do about this drastic problem that has affected millions of Canadians."

The following are the replies:

Dear Lisa:

Thank you for contacting the NDP.

Today’s NDP has its election platform on our website, www.ndp.ca where you will see practical ideas on making life more affordable. We are committed to protecting the family farm through a food system approach. The NDP has a long history of fighting for farm families and will continue to work with farm organizations and NGOs to get a better deal for family farmers in Canada and around the world.

Ecological techniques combined with sustainable farming approaches, including regulation, technologies and ideas or practices from other countries more advanced along the sustainable path can all benefit us as we think about the alternatives and put them into place.

The Liberal government claims that it can push for free trade and protect family farms at the same time and we don’t believe that, nor do most farmers. The Liberals have to make some choices, and it has to happen soon.

Once again, thanks for writing.

Jack Layton and today’s NDP
New energy. A positive choice.
Jack Layton et le NDP
Un force nouvelle. Un choix positif.
www.ndp.ca: www.ndp.ca

Her reply to Jack

Thank you for answering my letter.

However, in a time of crisis, generalities do not help. We, as farmers, need specifics especially in a time of crisis as we are in now. As a typical politician, this letter has skirted around the issue and not really answered the question that was asked. I do appreciate that you answered my query, but you did not answer the question. How would you feel if you were not a politician, but a farmer. You ask what the government is going to do to help farmers in a time of crisis and the only response that you get is “we are going to help.” Wouldn’t you want to know how? If you have a major cut on your arm and you put a band aid on it, sure it will help, but it will not stop the bleeding. You can put as many band aids on as you want, but without stitches, nothing will stop the bleeding. Just like the agriculture industry. We have suffered a giant blow, and sure a little money here and there helps, but it is only a band aid solution. We need major and drastic solutions in order to solve the problem. From what I have heard, all we are receiving is the band aids. Can you give us the stitches?

Dear Lisa,

Our message includes investing another $1.5 Billion towards helping farmers. Please refer to our specific recommendations in our platform (from page 48-49) to see exactly where the money would be spent.

We promise to help farmers hurt by trade decisions so they wouldn’t be forced to depend on support from cash strapped provincial governments.

The NDP will completely review Canada’s safety net programs to make them stable, and protect family farms from unexpected drops in income caused by natural disasters and adverse trade rules.

Sincerely,
Jack Layton and today’s NDP.
New energy. A positive choice.
Jack Layton et le NDP
Un force nouvelle. Un choix positif.
www.ndp.ca: www.ndp.ca


Not one of the other parties replied to this letter.
Also, neither the Liberal or Conservative have an agriculture platform on their website. NDP does and it spells out fairly clearly where their priorities are.

I have never voted NDP but must say I was impressed.

[cowman]

pandianna: Jack Layton continues to impress me also...but I won't vote for him.
He really can't form a government, that is a fact. Our only hope of getting rid of the present crooks and thieves is the Conservative party. I would hope that they wouldn't be as crooked as the Liberals?
I also am rather dismayed that the Conservatives are so wishy-washy on their Ag platform, but we need to realize that we need a change, for better or worse(how could it get much worse)?
I try to focus on the fact that Stephen Harper seems to be a man of principle...because my own Conservative MP is pretty much a dud! We are now voting on one thing, and one thing only, A CHANGE! We know the party in power isn't working...and only one other party stands any chance of changing that! The Conservatives.

[ALICIA]

In a earler post I metioned that the PC called me and when I told them if they helped the farmers I'd vote for them. My answer was ya and he hung up.
Well I got a flyer from a Scott Reid,
One of his sayings is I promised, His last is as following

A pledge to Protect the Rural Way of Life. (In red lettering) followed by I have been fighting for farmers affected by the BSC crisis through the Buy Canadian Beef consumer awareness campaign,
I pledge to introduce a bill in the next session of Parliament, preventing the government from stripping property owners of the use or value of their property without full, just and timely compensation.
I pledge to seek the entrenchment of property rights in the Constitution.
He signed his name.

[whiteface]

Did anyone notice in the debate last night that while it seems Stephen Harper will kiss George W's butt best, only Jack Layton mentioned BSE. I'm torn more than I ever have in my life. Who is going to get packing plants built and give us the options we need?

[pandiana]

I have been very surprised at the number of people who have said they are strongly considering NDP. Would it be a through-away vote if he came in a strong third in a minority government?

[cswilson]

Any NDP vote is a throw away vote lol.

[ALICIA]

The Green Party in my neck of the woods is a women named Janina Fisher Balfour. Her quote on Agr. is as following; Encouraging organic farming rather than heavily subsidizing ago-chemicals and genetically modified foods.
I'm thinking she doesn't even know what she is quoting.
Ending subsicies that result in more pollution-creating and resouce-depleting activities
I'm asumming she just may mean our ordinary farming activities sence she seem to like organic farming.

[rsomer]

Whiteface: According to an article in the last Western Producer, the Liberal party is promising to help farmers invest in value-added processing facilities through co-operatives and organizations.

[Cedar]

YA RIGHT!!!! What's their definition of "farmer"???....mega-feedlots (50,000-head-plus only need apply), Cargill, and Tyson????

And their definition of "co-operatives and organizations"....hmmmm...probably Tyson and Cargill "co-operating" and forming a new "organization"....after all, the west only has room for one packer...according to the rules of the psychopathic megacorps.

Besides, Martin is so busy, like a sickening broken record, going on and on about fixing healthcare, he obviously has no time for anything else!

[rsomer]

While just who is a farmer anymore is getting harder and harder to define, the typical farmer would be the one most likely to participate in a producer owned packing plant through one of the new generation co-ops. The Cargills, Tyson Foods and mega feedlots are able to invest through more conventional corporations.

It has been pointed out in these threads that producer owned packing plants are needed and that support from government would be required to see them take off and get built. This commitment from the Liberals to support value adding though cooperative processing facilities has to be taken as a step in the right direction. I know there are some Liberal candidates running in Alberta who have connections to the beef industry, maybe they have had some input in this.

I have not seen a similar commitment from the other parties.

[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