If only there were more politicians like these
In a matter of weeks a new Coordinator will be taking over the reins of the National Farmers Union in Ontario. After 3 and half years I have decided to step down from my elected position. Over the next several weeks I plan to provide some reflective commentary on the state of Canada’s family farmers and our food system.
Over my time as Coordinator I have been pretty hard on politicians. This is due to my belief that our politics in Canada has become one based on adversarial conflict and has little to do with the pursuit of common goals and needs of everyday Canadians. With a government in Ottawa mired in ideology and hypocrisy little of value gets done. However, there are some good and committed people in public life in Canada at all levels. The following list is made up of some I have interacted with and have come away greatly impressed.
(These are not in any particular order.)
Andre Bellavance is the Bloc Quebecois MP for Richmond-Arthabaska. While his primary focus is of course Quebec, he has taken a great interest in pan-Canadian issues and has been a real ally for family farmers in the House of Commons.
Bill Murdoch is the Progressive Conservative MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. Murdoch is the quintessential political maverick. While you might not always agree with Murdoch’s politics or views, his heart is in the right place and he always says exactly what he believes. We would be better off if Murdoch’s Bruce-Grey independent streak was found in more politicians.
Ernie Hardeman is the Progressive Conservative MPP for Oxford and his party’s Agricultural Critic. I have found Hardeman and his staff to be open, engaged and dogged in the pursuit of policies that make sense for farmers.
Carol Mitchell is the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Liberal MPP for Huron-Bruce. Mitchell has made lots of positive noises over the years and appears to understand the issues many farmers are facing. Now that Mitchell has become the Minister it remains to be seen whether she will chart her own course or keep on keeping on with policies that are failing. These are early days, but since she is also my MPP I will be watching.
Kimberley Love has not been elected yet, but she is the Federal Liberal Candidate for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. Love in engaging, intellectually curious and if merit was a criteria for getting elected, would be a contender in her riding. However, too often we support parties we have always supported, or our grandparents supported and that will work against her. Farmers would be well served with her in the House though.
Wayne Easter is the Liberal MP for Malpeque on PEI. There are few people in Canada that know as much as Easter on agricultural issues. Agree with him or not, Easter’s singular goal is a more secure financial future for Canada’s farmers.
Jack Layton is the Leader of the Federal NDP and the MP for Toronto-Danforth. Layton probably does not come to mind for a lot of people when you think of agricultural issues. But I have found Layton to have a deep well of concern about what is happening with family farmers. Layton organized a meeting of community people and food activists smack dab in the middle of an urban neighbourhood in downtown Toronto. He made sure farmers were there so that urbanites could hear directly from us about our concerns and more importantly about solutions. I was honoured to be a part of the panel that day.
While there are others I could name, including Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath who sought out advice on rural issue prior to her run for leader and has kept a close watch on them since, I will close with one MP who is, without exaggeration, simply the most humble, caring and hard working politician I have met, regardless of party. Alex Atamanenko is the Federal NDP Agriculture Critic and the MP for BC Southern Interior. Atamanenko has worked amazingly hard traveling across the country talking to farmers and others about a food policy for Canada. His knowledge has become deep and impressive. But here is a story I would like to relate about him that describes his character. Several years ago Atamanenko was invited to an NFU AGM, along with representatives of other political parties. When his time was over he hung around to listen to other speakers. When the meeting was over, he was still there helping to clean up and put away chairs. Tell me how many politicians you know who would do that.
We have some good people working for our interests in the political arena and they cut across all party lines. If we took voting as seriously and with as much pride as we do who wins Olympic medals we might even have more of them.
National NFU Website
