THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011
VOL. 89 | NO. 13 | $3.75
FOR MAKE TRACKS | MECHANISMS COPING IN MUD P42
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
|
WWW.PRODUCER.COM
FEDERAL ELECTION 2011 | PAGE 15
BARRY WILSON | WILL AG SPENDING BE CUT? P. 10 CANADIAN ELECTION FACTS • Although this will be the fourth election in seven years, it is not a Canadian record for parliamentary instability. That came between 1957 and 1963, when there were four elections in less than six years: 1957, 1958, 1962, & 1963. • The minority Stephen Harper government survived for 29 months, a bit longer than the average for minority governments. The Canadian record for parliamentary brevity came in 1926 when the 15th Parliament headed by prime minister Arthur Meighen lasted barely seven months.
Liberal party leader Michael Ignatieff gestures at a news conference in Toronto March 28. |
PHOTO
REUTERS/MARK BLINCH PHOTO
New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton speaks to journalists in the foyer of the House of Commons. | REUTERS/CHRIS WATTIE PHOTO
FEDERAL ELECTION | AG ISSUES
Farm leaders plan to press ag issues Rural concerns | Future of Canadian Wheat Board single desk monopoly will be issue across Prairies BY BARRY WILSON OTTAWA BUREAU
As Canada launched into its 41st election campaign after the combined opposition defeated the minority Conservative government March 26, farm leaders began compiling their wish lists. They see the May 2 election as a chance to make political gains. “If they get around to talking about issues, food has to be a big issue in the campaign,” Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Ron Bonnet said from Brussels, Belgium, where he was at meetings to try to create a new
international farmers’ organization. “It is in the news. It is, or should be, a front-line issue.” The CFA said it will be pressuring candidates and parties to commit to more regional flexibility in federal funding for provincial farm support programs, political support for ecological goods and services payments to farmers for environmental contributions, more research funding and a national food policy. CFA plans to host a mid-April debate between party agricultural representatives in Ottawa. Grain Growers of Canada said it will press candidates to promise more
research funding, fast action on rail service improvements, a commitment to expanded trade deals and work on how to allow prairie wheat and barley producers to market outside the Canadian Wheat Board without destroying the CWB for those who want to use it. The future of the CWB monopoly single desk will be an issue across the West as Conservative candidates campaign for marketing choice and opposition candidates warn that a strong Conservative mandate will mean the demise of the wheat board. “If the Conservatives get a majority, then the wheat board is gone,” NDP
agriculture critic Alex Atamanenko said. “That will be a key issue for us.” The national campaign, Conservative leader Stephen Harper’s fourth and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff’s first, likely will contain little agricultural or rural content although the Liberals will promise a national food strategy and a rewrite of farm support policies driven by farmers. Harper said he will campaign on the economy and what he sees as a threat that if the Conservatives are returned for the third time with a minority, opposition parties will
Spring runoff could deal crippling blow to Foam Lake area farmers SASKATOON NEWSROOM
FOAM LAKE, Sask. — Farmers and landowners in low-lying areas around Foam Lake are bracing for another battle in their fight against spring flooding. Last year, the Foam Lake area, including Fishing Lake, received roughly 1,000 millimetres of rain between April 1 and freeze-up. Record precipitation created waterlogged fields, overflowing wetlands and shallow inland lakes in spots that normally grow grain and oilseeds.
The area received a lot of snow this winter and the spring melt is already two weeks to a month late, according to local grain buyer Graham Smith, who manages the North East Terminal at nearby Wadena, Sask. Spring runoff, when it finally begins to flow, could deal another crippling blow to the area’s farmers, who last year seeded about 20 to 25 percent of their normal acreage. “It’s not going to be pretty,” said Smith. “It’s absolutely critical that we start getting some warm weather here.” access=subscriber section=news,none,none
SEE PREPARING FOR FLOODS, PAGE 2
»
• Just six of Canada’s 22 prime ministers have governed from a prairie base — Arthur Meighen (Manitoba), R.B. Bennett (Calgary), William Lyon Mackenzie King and John Diefenbaker (Prince Albert, Sask.), Joe Clark (Alberta) and Stephen Harper (Calgary). Source: Staff research
u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv":. MARCH 31, 2011 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4
access=subscriber section=news,none,none
SEE LEADERS PRESS ISSUES, PAGE 2
RISING WATERS | PREPARING FOR FLOODING
BY BRIAN CROSS
• In the 2008 election, the secondhighest number of Canadians cast a ballot in Canadian history – almost 14 million. It also was the lowest voter percentage turnout in history – 58.8 percent. The record high was recorded in 1958 when 79.4 percent of Canadians voted to elect John Diefenbaker. The second highest turnout was 79.2 percent in 1963 when voters rejected the Diefenbaker government.
»
The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Inc. Publisher, Larry Hertz Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240; Registration No. 10676
Conservative leader and prime minister Stephen Harper speaks during a news conference in Brampton, Ont., March 27. | REUTERS/CHRIS WATTIE