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10 THE RURAL VOICE
Adrian Vos
Gimme, gimme, gimme more
Many farmers are no different
from the general public. Where the
government is concerned it seems to
be "gimme, gimme, gimme more".
This is once again demonstrated in
the protests of
some farmers
and by the NFU
who want the
government to
support all
farmers so they
don't need to go
out to
supplement their
income with
part-time jobs.
These people
should know
that there is no
more money.
Similar
protests were heard when the
Ontario (Liberal) government of the
time helped tobacco farmers to leave
farming. Then, as now, groups
wanted enough subsidies so these
farmers could produce tobacco for
which there was no market at the
time.
However, the money to be made
available to help farmers help
themselves is well spent. For those
farmers who use it successfully the
need for more subsidies will be a
thing of the past.
The present situation is, and no
one, government or individual, can
change that, that new production
methods and new improved
cultivars of virtually all crops, have
made it possible for one farmer to
farm an acreage that took five or
more farmers in our father's time.
Fact is that those who want to farm
because of the lifestyle, must either
get bigger or have part-time jobs.
(Note to Greg Brown [writer of a
letter in the September issue]. / did
not state that better means bigger.
YOU did.) One can decry this but it
does not change reality.
Another reality which is usually
ignored by farm leaders, is that
many (most?) farmers forced off the
land in the 80s, and who have found
an eight to five job, wouldn't want
to go back to the uncertainty and the
long hours of farming, and most of
those who are dedicated to the
lifestyle of the farm are now back on
the land. (I realize I cannot verify
this statement and would like to see
a survey done on these former
farmers.)
As I write this the Prime Minister
has just called a general election.
The above will surely be on the
agenda of farmers. What I see as
legitimate demands for assistance is
where it concems the protection of
the environment. When society
demands fencing off of streams,
which is a reasonable demand,
society should pay by means of a
government program. When society
is concerned about future food
supplies, society should help pay for
erosion control. When society is
concerned about pure food, society
should help pay for education
programs for farmers instead of
closing education facilities. If
farmers want such assistance they'd
better be prepared to face the
candidates and ask what they stand
for. From the answers they will
have an inkling what the winning
candidate will advocate in the
caucus of his/her party. It is the
only place where MPs have any
influence on government farm
policies. Once it becomes part of
the parliamentary debate they are
tied to the party line, whatever their
private convictions.
It is regrettable that MPs cannot
vote according to their conscience if
they wish to stay in office, or even
in caucus. The NDP in Ontario has
long allowed freedom from voting
along the party line, but that was
when in opposition and before they
thought they could ever form a
government. Why is Canada alone
in such party discipline when
Britain, on which our system of
government is based, and our
southem neighbour, the U.S., allow
vote according to conscience?
To change the system would take
a revolution, and Canadians are not
generally revolutionary folks, so we
will be saddled with it for the