Who are you voting for and why?

[myboyjeff]

The West still has the same problem: population. We simply don't have enough votes to make it worthwhile for the politicians to put effort into keeping the Western Canadian farmer happy. I have heard Mr. Day say on the news that he won't forget about the Western farmers, but I did not hear specifics. Mr. Day has lived in rural Western Canada, but as I said previously, I think he may be on the road to becoming easternized. I have friends from the rural Alberta town he lived in. Apparently, it is commom knowledge that one evening Mr. Day and three friends from the same local church tried to push the bar over with their bare hands because they said it was full of sinners. When asked how they were going to accomplish this, the reply was they had the power of God. The bar still stands. I would be alot happier if Preston Manning were the Alliance leader, but overall the Alliance may be Alberta's best bet. I agree with an earlier comment that the Liberals have had time to do something for the West and haven't. Why would they change now? When I hear Joe Clark speak I can't get past thinking about Mulroney; the PCs have never done anything for the West anyway. I recently read an article which predicted that, according to current trends, the family farm will be only a memory in 50 years. What will the politicians be saying then? We can't all be urban. I am still undecided.

[shelka]

The Canadian Alliance has my vote. Just think of the Liberal's $3 BILLION Human Resources fiasco, reduction in health transfer payments to the provinces, the promise of no GST in a previous election, the funding of rotting dead rabbits, and much, much more. For agriculture, check out the Canadian Alliance's website, listed here.

[overbye]

Well, I don't know. As some have said, do any of the candidates really care about the prairies? I mean, all the votes are in the urban centres, so they will have to focus on those areas to get the votes. Saskatchewan is to thinly populated, we don't have enough population to makle us important to them. Sadly enough, they don't seem to realize that this is an agricultural country. Sure we have oil and other stuff to deal with, but so much of the land base is in agriculture. The liberals haven't done a whole lot for the farmers, Day is new and I don't know enough about his platform. NDP doesn't seem to be focusing much on agriculture and the P.C.'s, well they don't look so bad. Sask. has had problems with the PC party before with premier Grant Devine. Sure the farmers had it good with him in power and he did lots for us. But he also buried us in billions of dollars of debt. I have no love for the PC's but the alternatives aren't real impressive.

[jwright]

I don't see anything in the Alliance policy that is different than the disastrous policies of Klein and Chretien. Except perhaps disembowelling the CWB, including ignoring the results of the CWB elections. No new ideas. No programs to help farmers change careers. More powers over transportation to the grain companies and the railways. More dying small towns. Cut taxes on the rich so there's no money to help the unlucky. More opportunties for middlemen. User fees for everything. It isn't clear who to vote for, but it's pretty clear who *not* to vote for.

[oilcan]

Just curious, where are the election results for the appointed non-farmer directors at the CWB?

[jwright]

About the same as the election results for the appointed members of Alberta's regional health boards. Stockwell Day talks one way and walks another.

[oilcan]

Perhaps when you write about elections you should be bold enough to explain just how those elections are handled. Including how the electoral boundaries where made (ineffective), the appointments (surely farmers can run their own marketing board), and the amount of money paid to those directors. I'm guessing your not even a farmer, so I can understand your lack of knowledge in regards to this issue. Now, to run down 'any' person seeking elected office, including Mr. Day, is your choice but perhaps you should try it rather than wait for an appointment. Just a thought.

[jwright]

Friend, would you care to reread my messages and decide whether any of your comments have any basis. I've been a farmer for fifteen years and my family have been farmers for several hundred years, if not longer. Only in Alberta for a hundred years though. I didn't say a word about boundaries, appointments, etc. only that the CARE coalition and the Alliance party should get their own house in order before they criticise the CWB. Are you suggesting Stockwell Day is above criticism? Will we all have to think alike if he gets elected? Jim Wright

[jwright]

On reflection, this conversation has got out of hand. I'll defer to 'Oilcan' Jim

[oilcan]

So what has all those 'fifteen' years taught you about appointments? Suggesting that the election is purely democratic is a myth as long as oil, fertilizer and bank executives are appointed as directors. Has the price of fuel, fertilizer or bank charges been reduced by these appointed directors at the CWB? I understand your diatribe at the federal and provincial parties you mentioned. I even support some of your concerns but forgetting that farmers cannot have the mandate to improve the CWB without appointments is hypocracy. As a long time farmer of fifteen years do you support such appointments? Have these directors supported the farmers that use the CWB to market their crops? In what way?