Agriculture MIA in Throne Speech  

Barry Devolin column (October 7/04)

On Tuesday, as I listened to the Governor-General deliver the Throne Speech, I waited patiently to hear what the Liberals would say about the future of agriculture in Canada .

I waited … and waited … and waited.

Before I knew it, the speech was over, and I realized the subject of agriculture had not been raised. In fact, the word “agriculture” was never even spoken.

As many of you know, I ran for the Conservative nomination and in the general election on a platform that made “protecting family farms” my #1 priority.

Over the past year, I have learned much about the challenges facing farmers. During this time, I have also become aware that many multi-generation farms in this riding could face financial ruin if help from government is not soon forthcoming.

And to my non-farming constituents, I want to remind you that this crisis in agriculture cannot in any way be linked to poor business management by Canadian farmers.

Rather, Canadian farmers have been brutally sideswiped by an international trade dispute over which they have no control.

As I’ve listened to debate on the Throne Speech this week, my mind has drifted beyond what I didn’t hear from the Liberals, and moved on to what I would have liked to hear.

Here’s what I wanted to hear in the Speech from the Throne.

“The Government of Canada recognizes the important of farmers and appreciates the enormous contribution they make to Canadian society.”

“Farmers are important, and the work they do to provide food to our families is crucial to the health, wealth, and security of Canada .”

“The Government wants farmers to keep on farming today, tomorrow, 10 years from now, and 50 years from now.”

“In response to the national crisis that now exists in agriculture as a direct result of the discovery in early 2003 of a single cow afflicted with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the Government will declare a State of National Crisis in Agriculture.”

“In so doing, this Government will make the immediate management and ultimate resolution of this National Crisis its number one priority.”

“The Prime Minister of Canada , together with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, will assume co-management of this crisis until sufficient progress has been made that the State of National Crisis in Agriculture can be lifted.”

But alas, these words were not heard this week in Canada ’s Parliament. However, I want to assure every farmer in this riding that I will continue to do everything in my power to move this crisis onto the agenda of a reluctant Liberal government.