The Hill: Who neutered the farm lobby bull?
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
What has happened to the farm lobby, wonders the Liberal ag critic and former head of the National Farmers Union, and its historic role of holding governments to account?
by BARRY WILSON
Back in the day, politicians courted farm leaders. They were an important pipeline to an important constituency. They articulated goals for a key sector.
When the president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) cleared his throat in the 1970s and told the federal government what was needed, they listened and tried to respond.
That was then. These days, farm leaders are judged by whether they are telling politicians what they want to hear.
If not, they are sidelined.
It may be that the farm lobby is less united and more acquiescent. It may be that the farm vote has become so identified with the Conservative Party that it is not considered worth courting. So politicians tell it like they think it is.
Farm lobbyists play along or be damned.
Consider the performance by agriculture minister Gerry Ritz last year when he told the CFA leadership to get on board or get out of the way on the issue of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly.
By not taking a position because its members are divided on the monopoly, the CFA took itself out of the debate, the minister said.
"This government is listening to farmers and now is the time for real leadership," the minister told silent delegates. "This is no time to sit on the fence. Barley marketing freedom is coming and it's time to lead, follow or get out of the way."
He refused to take questions and beyond some fiery "I've never been so insulted in my life" rhetoric from delegates after he left, the CFA seems to have gone out of its way to make nice with the Conservatives ever since. See minister, we're not an obstacle. We want to be at the table.
All of which has led Liberal agriculture critic and former confrontational National Farmers Union president Wayne Easter to wonder aloud who neutered the farm lobby bull. What, wonders Easter, has happened to the farm lobby and its historic role of holding governments to account and challenging them on behalf of their members?
"I think they have become extremely timid in terms of challenging the government," he groused at one point this summer. "They just seem so afraid the minister will shut the door in their face that they play footsie to remain invited into the room."
Easter cited the lack of strong Prairie producer demand that governments do more than say existing programs will handle this year's drought and rail service issues. He cited the Canadian Pork Council's meek acceptance of a government loan program after being told by Ritz that a request for direct payments was not on.
What he sees as CFA timidity drives Easter crazy. "This government doesn't listen to these guys and they're doing little for agriculture in the midst of serious problems in many sectors and failing programs," he said. "They should get over it and quit worrying about being quiet to get into the room. This minister isn't listening. I can tell you farmers on the ground are not impressed by their leadership."
These days, supply management leaders get a sympathetic hearing because they are part of the government and opposition agenda. Beyond that, "say as I think or be ignored" seems to be the political message to farm leaders.
Back in the day, that would have been unthinkable. BF
Barry Wilson is a member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery specializing in agriculture.