Lobbyists

[parsley]

<a
href="http://parsleysnotebook.blogspot.com/2010/01/did-savings-bank-in-sweden-ask-makhdoom.html">If you were now a taxpayer in rural Manitoba</a>
<a href="http://parsleysnotebook.blogspot.com/2010/01/has-fisher-makhdoom-abbas-permanently.html">don't you just wish </a>
<a href="http://parsleysnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/12/sunbelt-prairie-products-red-inked-to.html">that just ONE of the Pulse lobbyists you admire so much</a>
<a href="http://parsleysnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/12/sunbelt-prairie-products-bites-altona.html">had been an internet detective for just one moment for the farm community?</a>

Yes, well. pars

[dave4441]

This has nothing to do with the topic. You are making it sound like lobbyists are now responsible for a private enterprise bankruptcy. What has this got to do with anything.

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

I have been to many presentations by each of the folks who work at Pulse Canada.

Your attack is simply off the mark.

Each one of these people is articulate, knowlegable, well respected in our industry, focused on areas of our industry that demand coordination and development... and make real differences to the possible returns for grain at the farm gate.

Railways, grain co's, chem co's... have skilled folks to get their message across... now you are telling me I must take a day job in Ottawa... as well as farm?

You miss the mark on this issue.

Farmers need more influence and honest help in Ottawa... NOT LESS.

[parsley]

Tom, It is not a personal attack. In fact working for Pulse Canada is a great job from an employees point of view.

Stand back.

I am saying the overall structure of agriculture includes intensive, expensive, extensive ag lobbying to our own government. How many man days does ag, as a whole including all ag players, spend, pandering to government? Countless.

And we live in the information age!

Whether at the local level, the provincial level or the federal level. lobbying doesn't serve people well. Nor is it respected. Ask your neighbor what he really thinks of lobbying.

The government only listens to those it wants to hear from, who provide the gov't with an excuse to legitimize a pre-determined decision.

You know that when anti- Wheat Board lobbyists went to Liberal's offices, the government had their mind already made up. It was such a waste of human resources.... which includes employees on both sides, and valuable time for all. I watched Friends of the Board expend piles of money and time lobbying to the Conservatives. This government knew years ago they could have issued export licenses to free up marketing.

Both sides spent money lobbying for no reason..... so I have concluded lobbying only benefits government, and those whom they wish to distribute wealth to.

Farmers are not among that list. Right from 1947.

Pulse Canada is only another bureaucratic organization that will continue to clone efficient government reps. Sorry, but that's what it is. So is the Flax Council of Canada. Both are funded, regulated and dominated by Government. And yes, some farmers love institutionalized central planning.

Pars
I have the following structure handy on my desktop hand....so look at the structure of the flax organization! You really don't think this was set up to serve farmers, do you?


QUOTE

FLAX CANADA 2015 PROJECT FUNDING:

Agricultural Policy Framework (APF), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provides information, research and technology, and policies and programs to achieve security of the food system, health of the environment and innovation for growth.

As the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector moves into the 21st century, it faces many challenges and opportunities for continued prosperity. Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Agriculture have pledged to meet today's challenges by jointly developing a comprehensive Agricultural Policy Framework
Province of Alberta

Alberta Agricultural Research Institute

The Alberta Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) is the primary agency in Alberta for funding, coordinating and promoting strategic agricultural initiatives in research, development and technology transfer for the agriculture and agri-food sector.


AARI was established by the Alberta Science and Research Authority Act and funds numerous projects each year that play a significant role in advancing Alberta's position as a global player in the agriculture and food sector.

Province of Manitoba

Manitoba’s Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative (ARDI) is the primary funding body for agri-food research in the province. With contributions from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI), ARDI funding supports innovative research that results in vibrant rural communities and profitable, sustainable farms. In addition, MAFRI provides complimentary support to primary and value-added enterprises through a range of farm and rural services delivered throughout Manitoba.


Province of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's mandate is to foster a commercially viable, self-sufficient and sustainable agriculture and food sector. Working with individuals, businesses, communities, and governments, the department assists farmers and ranchers, encourages higher value production and processing, and promotes sustainable economic development in rural Saskatchewan.

Flax Council of Canada

The Flax Council of Canada is a single organization, representing the producers, grain handlers, shippers, exporters and end-users of flax. Established in 1986 with full representation from all agricultural and industrial flax interests, the Flax Council promotes the advancement of flax and flax products.

The Council focuses the resources of the entire Canadian flax industry on flax market development, market and production research and crop promotion. Through its marketing initiatives and communication programs, the Flax Council creates worldwide market opportunities for flax. The Council has a strong research and technical emphasis, supporting flax-related research both with direct funding and indirectly as a coordinating forum.

Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission



The Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, established in 1996, works to lead, promote, and enhance the production, value-added processing and utilization of Saskatchewan flax.


The Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission has defined three main areas of activity allocating check-off dollars annually to research; communication and market facilitation with the intent to provide for the orderly and effective development of the flax industry in Saskatchewan.


FLAX CANADA 2015 PROJECT MANAGEMENT:

Ag-West Bio Inc., the executing agency for Flax Canada 2015, is a not for profit, member-based organization at the forefront of Saskatchewan’s bio-economy. Ag-West Bio works as a catalyst for partnerships and industry growth through investments, aiding strategic alliances, providing regulatory advice and communications. Integral to the development of one of North America’s most successful life science clusters, consider Ag-West Bio your complete resource for information on Saskatchewan’s bio-economy.

Ag-West Bio Inc.

101 – 111 Research Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3R2, CANADA

Tel: (306) 975-1939 Fax: (306) 975 1966 UNQUOTE

[parsley]

Dave, I'll own up.

"You like to sit around and play internet detective while the rest of the world moves forward with real concerns"

I admit I got a little pissy with that comment. Not because I fancy myself an internt detective, in fact I'm quite dumb at it, but from the Altona Manitoba municipal taxees' point of view, nobody, including themselves, did any due diligence. I figured one of the paid pulse elite should have.

And I was being sarcastic, I indulged, but you'd have thought one fancy degreed pulse-collar flying to Ottawa with blackberry in hand would have thumbed in Makhdoom Abbas. These Pulsettes are the smart kids of the industry, aren't they? But it is, yes, ultimately Altona's baby. Pars

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

Have you actually been involved with one of the Pulse Canada folks and see them work FOR US?

I have... for years... and some of the best money I ever spent... as a pulse grower... was provided to them to represent me in a timely manner.

AND I should know... Parsley... we as growers spend far too little on the market development and public policy areas... which is EXACTLY why so many grain growers complain we end on the short end of public policy.

You can not have it both ways at the same time. Pulse Canada is doing real and important work with the medical research community, transportation sector, environmental policy, jobs growers are woven into where important... but the day to day facilitation needs are met by those skilled at bringing progress to farmers farm gates through skilled and talented peoples hard work!

You are picking on the wrong people Parsley. The Industry out spends us $20-1 and you complain about the $1?

Good Grief.

<(>;{ GRIN you goofis!

[parsley]

"Farmers kick out $Billions in crops, you are satisified with the $22,000 net, and you're cap in hand grateful glad to get $20 bucks in subsidies?

Good Grief."


Look at the big picture! Tinker, you know I would never be ticked at you. I may poison you next time you come to stay, but it will be a mellow death. Pars

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley....

The Chicken and the Egg...

Remember... your job is to be nice!

Hey... I am ready to go... Let the games begin!

<(>: Grin

Do they call it a 'poision pen' Parsley?

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

You wrote:

"You view lobbying through negative eyes, though, don't you? Yup. We all do."

WRONG. Influencing folks is why we are on Agriville, we learn and we communicate... both sides are 'winners'.

If we open our mouths today... write a letter, type an e-mail...send a fax; there is only one reason to do so. To have our specific point of view understood. With the hope ACTION will result. In person changes all that? I do not think so! Unless picking up a bug or virus along with the explanation makes it need 'traceability'!

[dave4441]

Parsley-it is not Pulse Canada's responsibility to do due dilagence in the private business of the industry. It is absolutley nothing to do with their operations or scope of business. I think the people of Altona have to take 100 percent of the responsibility on that one. No one else.

I would have to call you a socialist at this point, or at least having socialistic tendancies with that thought process.

[dave4441]

Sorry, reread your post and you do acknowledge that it is the people of Altona's responsibility. Started to see red there for a second as it just is none of a grower organizations business what happens in private relationships.

[gustgd]

Dave your best point was

"In other threads you talk about grower organizations not representing growers at the table, now there is too many in the case of "pulse" as you state. You want the flax guys heads for not being represented at the proper table and prepared for the triffid issue."

To have influence we have to make it our business to get connected with the opinion makes in Ottawa. Politicians and ministers come and go, but it is those in the backgrounds doing the research and writing the opinions for those that make the decision.
Those strange beasts are found in Ottawa.