A Utopian national food strategy from the NDP
Monday, January 5, 2015
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the New Democratic Party are on the same page in calling for a pan-Canadian food strategy. But it is as far from coming to pass as ever
by BARRY WILSON
The new year's dawn officially ushered in the 42nd federal election year in Canadian history and, oddly, the New Democratic Party with few rural seats outside Quebec is the only party on record with an agricultural platform.
Well, a platform of sorts. Last summer, the party announced support for a Canadian Food Strategy that is long on principle and short on practical policy proposals. Those may well come during the campaign legislated to culminate in an October vote. But it may be no coincidence that the document was issued in "utopia" computer font. Utopia it is.
"This vision document outlines the major elements for a pan-Canadian food strategy," NDP agriculture critic Malcolm Allen said when it was announced. "We identify progressive federal leadership opportunities on agriculture and food issues. It is our hope that this can ignite a dialogue with those who care passionately about these issues, connect to new audiences outside those already engaged and strengthen our work with business and farming communities."
To say the commitments and proposals are vague would be akin to saying that crops are planted in the spring with great hopes but no idea of what will grow until autumn.
"This strategy is comprehensive, encompassing the inter-related issues of rural development, food security, health and safety, consumer rights and agri-business development," said Allen.
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), Canada's largest farm lobby if not necessarily the most influential these days, has spent many hours and dollars promoting the creation of a national food strategy and quickly welcomed the NDP announcement last year.
Finally, someone was paying attention!
"It is our strong belief and what the CFA has been advocating for some time – that industry, government and consumers must develop a set of common objectives for the food system in Canada," CFA president and Ontario beef producer Ron Bonnett said at the time. "We are encouraged to see the NDP's food strategy initiative and action taken towards a long-term vision for Canada's food and agriculture sector."
Other parties have not yet jumped to the bait and it is far from clear that rural policy will be a major issue in the 2015 election, except perhaps in Quebec where the NDP swept most rural seats in 2011 and where over-arching planning is more accepted than in the rest of Canada.
Why should other parties bother? In 2011, the Liberals spent time and resources promoting an extensive agricultural policy with the electoral result of zilch.
Besides, the idea of a "national food policy" is ephemeral at best, more notional than prescriptive. It is highly unlikely this country ever will have or real National Food Strategy with teeth.
It is different elsewhere. The United States with its Farm Bill, the European Union with its Common Agriculture Policy and countries like India and China with national rules have real national policies – predictable, prescriptive and lucrative.
Canada's attempts, burdened by federal-provincial jurisdictional divisions and conflicting farmer objectives, have been nothing more than wishful thinking. Growing Forward iterations imagine themselves to be national agricultural policy, but are as unpredictable and unbankable as they ever were.
Politicians may offer talk of the concept this year and make promises, even though the farm vote is not really in play outside of Quebec and even there may not be that important.
Farm leaders may say it is what they want and question politicians about it. But what the idea implies – a national farm policy with predictability and guarantees – is not in the cards.
Welcome to election year 2015. And beware of vague promises. BF
Barry Wilson is a member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery specializing in agriculture.