Opinions please?

[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]

...save the money and put it into building packing plants...

[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?

[cowman]

Or save the money and put it into health care! After all your doctor deserves the newest BMW!
Ag sucks and that isn't going to change!
All you boys, who are young enough, run like hell! Give it up...it isn't working!
For all you old lads like me?....realize reality...if you want to play "farmer" then do it!
But don't pretend this is some sort of business that makes sense!
For all the others caught in the nightmare...I'm sorry for you and I wish there was something I coud do....But I can't!

[les]

cant the PM bring speller back and run him in another riding?(by election)?Getty got back in in alberta when he lost his riding a few years back.

[kato]

The boycott thing has a chance. I sent letters to three mayors and a Chamber of Commerce in North Dakota.

The Chamber of Commerce answered me the next day!

The mayors, not at all.

I think C of Commerce in all states adjoining Canada are probably the right button to push.

If everyone else is like us, and not going to the States any more, we might as well tell 'em why.

Pressure to open the border has to come from within.

[whiteface]

I agree one thousand percent kato and again my hat is off to Manitoba for taking the lead on this endeavor. People definatly do listen when their wallets are affected.

[cakadu]

Goodale is being bandied about for ag minister, but I have to agree that the portfolios are in no way similar. I'm thinking out loud here, but might it be considered a step back (?) to go to Ag minister?

Ted Menzies is also one who would like to see his name on the short list for the job. Don't know enough about him to form an opinion on that front. My bet would be that as a very new comer to the whole arena, he likely wouldn't be chosen. What do some of the rest of you think?

There was also a fellow from the Maritimes who's name I cannot remember offhand, as a potential candidate.

I think that Speller tried and I'm not sure of how effective he was or could have been because he was in the position for such a short time. He seemed to get in there and roll up his sleeves - let's face it - he didn't exactly walk in at the best of times.

Let's just hope that the next person is up to the task and has agriculture at heart.

[cropduster]

Cowman, was out aviating yesterday AM and noticed that the sun seemed to come up particularly RED!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Incognito]

Cakadu:

Do you actually think Martin/Layton would appoint a former President of the WCWGA and a Conservative as Ag Minister? Or was this your rendition of humour?

You might see Easter as Ag Minister. The CWB/Supply Managed sector/NDP would love it.

Martin doesnt need the west, he needs the NDP.All that inclusionary BS that you guys fell for with the PM and Speller was just BS.

And Speller was singing a different tune in Ottawa than he was in the west. Ask a bureaucrat.

Everyone is going on and one like its his eulogy. He is already getting 106K a year pension. Think about that the next time you sell a cull cow.

[cakadu]

Well, I said I didn't know much about Menzies and for some strange reason, I thought he was running under the Liberal banner. My mistake. I heard Menzies in an interview stating why he thought he'd make a good ag minister. Maybe with the Tories he'll be the ag critic.

Wayne Easter was the other fellow mentioned.

[rsomer]

I note the comment questioning how effective Bob Speller was. Speller was Ag Minister when the announcement of $1Billion was made. Perhaps it helped to have Goodale as Finance Minister but to convince cabinet that your portfolio should receive $1Billion additional funding would be an indication that Speller was an effective minister. Prior to Speller being appointed Ag Minister he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Trade. Speller’s experience in International Trade would have been helpful in seeing a resolution to the issue of reopening trade for the Canadian beef industry.

A little info on Spellers riding. Manufacturing and agriculture are key industries in Spellers riding of Haldimand - Norfolk - Brant. Spellers riding is regarded as tobacco country although the riding did contain a beef and dairy component. Only about 7% of Spellers riding would be involved in primary industries such as agriculture. The riding had recently been redistributed and some predicted before the election that this would cause the riding to go to the Conservatives. Conservative Diane Finlay who defeated Speller in the election by a margin of 20938 to 19277 had experience in health care, transportation and manufacturing.