Farmers cultivate campaign for election candidates
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 | 7:16 PM ET
CBC News
Bob Friesen, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, says federal election campaigns often ignore issues affecting farmers.
His group, therefore, is targeting as many candidates as possible in the Jan. 23 vote to raise awareness about his industry's economic importance.
"On average, the multiplier factor of agriculture is five to one," said Friesen, who farms in Manitoba. "That means for every dollar of revenue generated at the farm gate, it generates five dollars to the Canadian economy."
Lonny McKague, a former Liberal candidate who farms near Ogema, Sask., says a party that comes up with a good agricultural policy could change his vote.
McKague says farmers are looking for some concrete solutions to the farm-income crisis.
"I think if the parties came clean on what their agricultural policy is, and farmers took the time to examine that policy, I think it could affect the vote," he said.
However, agricultural economist Paul Beingessner questions whether politicians find it worthwhile to pay more attention to agricultural issues.
"The Conservative party got away last election without an agriculture platform, and they still elected everybody but one in Saskatchewan and large numbers in the other western provinces," he pointed out.
Beingessner says that, ultimately, the matter lies in the hands of farmers.
If political parties believe farmers will continue their traditional voting patterns, he says, there's no incentive for politicians to pay more attention to agricultural issues.
