Looks like we've got ourselves a convoy!
I wonder how many times that song was sung today on Ontario's highways. Paul Brandt references aside, I would like to comment on today's agricultural protests at Toronto's Queen's park. (Available reports, CBC Canoe)

Today, while tractors were driving down the 401 toward Toronto, I was on the 401, driving away from Toronto, toward London, coincidentally to the Indoor Farm Show. My brother has been a wannabe farmer for as long as he first pushed a die-cast tractor across our living room floor. He and I have both worked on farms near our parents home, and have often worked together. He still dreams of owning a farm, but our strategy of marrying farm girls and inheriting their land seems to have failed, and it is virtually impossible to buy land and make a go of it.

Because of my rural roots, I sympathize with farmers, moreso than with city folk who have their drive to work extended. I grew up surrounded by farmers, and many farmers attend the church where I pastor. Farmers are struggling, I see it all around me.

The trouble, most farmers would agree, is that their voice is not heard very often in parliament. This protest will make their voice heard in parliament, but I'm not sure it's the voice they want to be heard. Among the protesters today were special interest groups, opponents to specific bills, and simply disgruntled folk.

The way I see it, is that everything in this province that happens to farmers, legislation, natural phenomenon, economic shift, etc., will always help one agricultural group and hurt another one. Since farmers and producers buy from each other, than one man's struggles is another man's profits. The greenbelt is only bad for a few farmers who want at some point not to be farmers anymore. The beef crisis sees farmers struggle with dropping value of their beef, but the producers sell for the same price, and laugh all the way to the bank. Subsidies don't necessarily help the whole industry, just one particular group. There will never be a united farmer's voice in parliament, because there isn't a united farmers' voice outside of parliament.

If a group could rise up to represent the whole of the agricultural community, they would provide a valuable service, but they would be despised by both government and farmers alike. Governments do need to give more support (subsidies, infrastructure, etc.) to farmers. The system in which farmers do business (quota, etc.) needs to be overhauled, and that wouldn't happen without ruffling some old school farmers feathers. But then maybe this group would go too far, like modern day unions.

Things need to change for farmers, and we can help that by buying from local farmers as much as we can. Farmers' markets and roadside stands are a great connecting point. It means carrying cash, and not having 24-7 convenience, but it feels good, and you meet some great people doing it. It won't save the system, but it helps a bit.

   [ posted by William @ 12:25 AM ]