Conservative Support

[Zaphod]

Here's an interesting clip. Kind of instructive that farmer support for conservatives is highest in the prairie provinces. And note that support for the conservatives jumped 10% in SK and AB since the last election. Hmmm.

A new Ipsos-Reid poll released this morning indicates that farmers in
Canada want a Conservative federal government. The survey shows that a majority of Canadian farmers would vote Conservative (64%). This is nearly identical to the intentions of Canadian farmers prior to the election in 2004, when 60% indicated an intention to vote
Conservative.

The Conservatives would receive the strongest support from Alberta (87% of decided voters), followed by Saskatchewan and Manitoba (73% and 71%, respectively). Twothirds of farmers in Ontario would vote Conservative (66%).

Real differences can be seen when looking at how farmer voting intentions have changed regionally. In Alberta, the Liberals have lost a lot of ground directly to the Conservatives. The Liberals are down 10 points while the Conservatives have gained 10 points. A similar shift has also occurred in Saskatchewan, where the Conservatives are up 10 points and the Liberals are down 4 points. The NDP have also lost 4 points in Saskatchewan.

The "majority" of farmers strongly support the CWB? I don't think so.

[lakenheath]

Nice attempt to correlate a Conservative vote with an anti-CWB vote. You really had to dive to the depths of simplicty with that analysis. But nice try, i guess.

[almoy]

I wasn't one that was polled but I won't vote Conservative mainly because of their stance on the CWB.

[cowman]

Well the fact is this: If Stephen Harper wins a majority government on January 23, the debate is over? The CWB loses its single desk and no longer will anyone be forced to deal with them? You still can if you want to but you won't be forced to. No more farmers in jail for selling their own grain?
Isn't that what the Conservatives are saying?

[nw9flynn]

I would think that most farmers are going to vote conservative b/c of a variety of issues:

1. Promise to scrap gun registry
2. Incease farm spending
3. Promise to replace the CAIS program
4. Tax Cuts for the middle class
5. Liberal CORRUPTION!!!

The only time their stance on the CWB is ever mentioned, is on this site.
Ever since they came out with thier stance on dual marketing last election they have rarley mentined it. If the conservatives are elected I doubt the CWB will lose it monopoly overnight, if at all. The majority of farmers do still want the CWB. This site is not a acurate poll of farmers, and not all farmers that read this site post.

The conservatives will be getting my vote, but not b/c they want to do away with the CWB.

[Zaphod]

The most interesting thing is the change from the last election. And the only thing added to the conservative's election platform is the CWB.

Sure, those other factors play a role, but they existed back in 2004 too.

Why is it that direct polls of farmers are never quoted for this mythical "majority support" of the CWB? The only support for that rural legend is the CWB elections, which are deeply flawed and are very indirect measures of farmer opinion.

[nw9flynn]

Zaphod,

I would disagree with your last statement.
A dual market system has always been a reform party policy. Since the PC and the reform merged it has been a untalked about party policy, but it has always been there.
How high up the CWB is on the conservative agenda is also another question that has to be raised. If they do form a majority, which I hope they do, I doubt they are going to make this a top priority for some time. They have bigger changes that they would rather implement first that have a bigger effect on the pop. of Canada and effect more regions of Canada. In other words I would not book trucks to head down south on just yet.

[charliep]

Just a question to everyone to see if the Liberal party has a written policy on their view of the CWB. Both the Conservative and NDP web sites are very clear on their policy (at least when they are in election mode).

[cowman]

I doubt changing the CWB act will be a priority in the near future but remember there will be a new minister in place who could make quite a few changes without changing the Act? For instance Export licenses? I think basically he could issue them with no buyback or cost or whatever? I guess it depends who the minister in charge of the CWB might be?
Don't forget Harper has some pretty heavy duty Alberta MPs who are not exactly all that keen on the CWB? The fact is they are mostly former Reform members and I think Reforms position was pretty clear in regards to the CWB? People usually don't change heartfelt ideologies?
In the big picture I wouldn't be too concerned about a radical change on the day after the election? I doubt the Conservatives will start lining up people against the wall and start shooting them? LOL!
An orderly transission from the old government to the new will take time and won't be earth shattering?

[dalek]

Latest rumour in and around the Conservative camp is Ted Menzies as International Trade Minister.

[parsley]

Cowman

Quoting you:
"The CWB loses its single desk and no longer will anyone be forced to deal with them? You still can if you want to but you won't be forced to. No more farmers in jail for selling their own grain? Isn't that what the Conservatives are saying?"

Harper has been consistent in his message. Nothing comes down the pipe that says he has changed his mind now that he is elected.

We will have a new minister in charge of the CWB very shortly.

Be still my heart.

Parsley