The Rural Voice, 2006-09, Page 63GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
Email: grey@ofa.on.ca Website: www.ofa.on.ca/grey
519-364-3050 or 1-500-275-9551
• The Rural Voice is provided to OFA
Members in Grey County by the GCFA
Farmers have cried wolf before
Michael Ignatieff, lifelong academic
and Liberal leadership hopeful, recently
made a brief campaign stop in Owen
Sound, obviously considered by federal
politicians to be the centre of Grey/
Bruce. He took this opportunity to share
some thoughts on agriculture and made it
apparent that a background in history,
international politics, teaching and
journalism do not necessarily prepare a
Canadian for national issues.
Mr. Ingatieff came out strongly in
favour of farm subsidies and pledged to
design a national food policy to
strengthen said subsidies. Is Mr. Ignatieff
aware that farmers themselves do not
think subsidies are the answer to
agriculture's woes? How likely is it that
our government will support farm
subsidies when each trade discussion and
agreement is determined to reduce or
eliminate them?
He vows that "he and the Liberal Party
will not let the farm family go to the
wall." I wonder where he thinks that
family is now? They have been at that
wall for many years, hanging on by their
fingernails and optimism. Mr. Ignatieff
was "told" that Canadian farm subsidies
total $8 billion, but who told him? Did he
consult with the OFA or CFA? Did he
seek out farm leaders to ask for their
thoughts or their experiences? Did he
read the Odyssey or Easter reports to
inform himself? With his academic
background, I would expect him to seek
out different sources and educate himself
before rendering an opinion.
The most disturbing remark was in his
acknowledgement that now farm income
is at record lows! "Farmers have cried
wolf before, but I am convinced that it is
a crisis." When exactly did farmers cry
wolf? Was it in the last three years of
BSE? Was it in the years of upwardly -
spiralling costs and crashing returns? Or
was it in the 1980s, when extremely high
interest rates combined with low prices
decimated the farming industry, driving
many families from their land? Was it
when the pressure from international
competition, allowed access to the
Canadian markets from Free Trade and
WTO set prices well below the cost of
60 THE RURAL VOICE
production? How many other industries
would survive in that climate, with those
challenges? Mr. Ignatieff, I am offended
and insulted. You should be ashamed of
yourself for this remark. It only reveals
your ignorance and lack of respect and
understanding for agriculture.
Searching the web pages of the other
Liberal hopefuls for agriculture -related
comments and concerns is disappointing.
Trade, education, immigration, health,
Israel and other issues are widely touched
on, but agriculture is barely touched on,
warranting one or two sentences at best.
Mr. Ignatieff is by no means the worst of
the lot, merely the one most recently
receiving local attention.
We now must educate yet another
batch of politicians to the realities of
farming and agriculture. On December 2,
the Liberal Party will meet in Montreal to
choose a new leader, from the 10
hopefuls. Here is our chance to speak out,
again. Call, write. e-mail all the
candidates. Ask them what their opinions
are on agriculture and why. Tell them
what you think; share your experiences,
demand a higher level of knowledge and
concern. One of these people may well be
the next Prime Minister.
Some of us recently attended the Blyth
Festival and were very impressed by
Another Season's Harvest, the latest
offering from Keith Roulston and Anne
Chislett. This play touched me as few
have, moving me and re -energizing me to
the battle. Our family, too, was affected
by the BSE crisis and count as friends
others who suffered and are still suffering
from an incident beyond their control.
Taking several pages from the headlines,
the playwrights tell a wonderful, poignant
story of a farm family hit hard from the
disease, the closed borders and the
changing farm economy. All the
characters are recognizable, within each
person's circle of friends and family. A
powerful performance by the actors
brought the characters to life and made
them friends. The rallies, the meetings,
the concerns and worries of the past three
years are all vividly brought back to life.
but serve to strengthen and not to depress.
Another Season's Harvest is human
drama at its best.
All politicians — urban, rural,
incumbent and potential, should have to
see this play. Regardless of their
familiarity with agriculture, it is the
human element of the crisis and of
farming that needs to be heard and seen.
Bring your urban friends, they may yet
"get it". This play should also be seen by
farmers — to remember, to renew and to
refresh. Remember what it was like when
this crisis hit and what we have been
living with since. Remember how
ineffectual our government has been
throughout. Renew your commitment to
agriculture, to your family and to your
farm organization. Renew your faith in
yourselves, your neighbours and your
community. Refresh your approach and
attitude to farming. Learn that things
change and we can, too. There are as
many different ways of farming as there
are farmers. Different is acceptable,
different is healthy. Thank you, Keith and
Anne, for sharing your passion.
— Submitted by Anne Marie Watson
Vice -President, GCFA
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
September 28 - 8:00 p.m.
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre
meeting room (Grey Gables)
206 Toronto Street South. Markdale
Members are welcome to attend „
GREY COUNTY
FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE 66TH
ANNUAL MEETING AND
BANQUET AND OFA
REGIONAL MEETING
Friday, October 13
Markdale Community Centre
Social: 6:30 p.m. ; Dinner: 7:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Chris Attema,
Water Quality Specialist
NOTE: OFA Regional Directors,
Delegates and Alternates for OFA
Convention and GCFA Presidents will
be elected at the meeting