national farmers union

In 1994, Canadas federal agriculture minister made a commitment to meet each year with leaders of five organizations representing women who farm across Canada.

On March 3, this years meeting took place in Ottawa. Although Rural Development Minister Andy Mitchell participated for over an hour, Agriculture and Agri-food Minister Lyle Vanclief was present for less than forty minutes.

"Each year, our meeting with the Minister of Agriculture gets shorter and shorter," says Mildred Keith, President of Federated Womens Institutes of Canada. "We are appalled that Mr. Vanclief places such low importance on issues of concern to the women and families who farm in Canada."

Irene Marais, President of the Reseau des Entreprises Familiales (Family Business network), shares Mrs. Keiths concerns. "In such a short time, you cant have a conversation. Mr. Vanclief talked at us instead of having a meaningful dialogue with us."

Carolyn Van Dine, who leads the Canadian Farm Womens Network, reports, "We were able to have a refreshing interchange with the executive assistant of Rick Borotsik, the Conservative agriculture critic, and with the executive assistant of NDP Member of Parliament Dennis Gruending. We are very encouraged that opposition parties are thinking about the development of agricultural policy that could sustain and support farm communities. We cannot see any evidence that the current government even has an agricultural policy."

Farm support programs currently being administered by the federal government will not provide useful assistance to most of the farmers who are currently threatened with loss of the ability to farm. The federal budget also failed to address farm needs and concerns despite the key role of agriculture in the economy and social structure of the entire country.