Stephane and Me
It has been quite a day. Today, it’s been all about Stephane and me. Don’t get it. It’s understandable. Most of you don’t come to farm rallies or take part in “agricultural roundtable discussions”. However for the last several hours it’s all been about Stephane and me.
If you still don’t get it I’m talking about Liberal leader Stephane Dion and his visit to Chatham-Kent this past Monday. I had been asked by local farmers to host a roundtable discussion on agriculture in the morning. It was my job to host and MC a farm rally at the Debot farm outside of Wallaceburg later that afternoon.
I do it because I owe local farmers. They are the guys who have stuck with me over a 20-year career as an agricultural writer. However, I also do it because I believe Canadian agriculture needs a better policy to sustain food production in this country. I do it because I believe my efforts can help.
It’s funny. I’ve always admired Stephane Dion even though I don’t know the man. He’s the guy who showed up with a knapsack from Quebec and was thrust into the cabinet of former Prime Minister Chretien. He was entrusted with writing the “Clarity Act”, a very controversial piece of legislation in his home province of Quebec, which set out the rules for a future referendum on Quebec separation. In my opinion, its one of the best pieces of legislation ever written in Canada.
Why you say? Simply put we all remember how we felt the night of the 1995 Quebec referendum when we came within less than 1% of the vote from losing Canada. After that Jean Chretien vowed never again. He entrusted Stephane Dion with coming up with legislation, which set out strict rules for any future dealings with a Quebec referendum. The following is the Wikepedia entry on the Clarity Act.
“The Clarity Act (known as Bill C-20 before it became law) is legislation of Canada’s federal parliament that established the conditions under which the Government of Canada would enter into negotiations that might lead to secession following such a vote by one of the provinces. It stipulated that in order to lead to separation negotiations, a referendum on independence in a given province would have to have “clearly” (according to the judgment of the Canadian House of Commons) framed its question to voters in terms of independence, and that the result would have to be a “clear majority” in favor, rather than merely, for instance, a 50%+1 majority”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarity_Act
So it is what it is. As politicians go, so it goes. From an agricultural perspective farmers have been fighting policies, which were enacted by the past Liberal administration. Many Conservatives were elected by farmer frustration in many rural ridings last time around. Now farmers are angry with the Conservatives for re-nigging on their promises. Now we are back to the Liberals again. Hmmmmmmmm.
For those of you whose only concern regarding agriculture is getting food the next day from your refrigerator keep all of this in mine. There will probably be more farmer “unrest” into the winter and spring months. The policies, which are needed to sustain Canadian agriculture, are not properly in place. Many Canadian farmers today are like birds that weren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. Their activism will surely manifest itself on the political discord in 2007 and into 2008.
However, back to Stephane and me. I worked with the man the whole day. Why? I dunno. When I’m asked by local farmers to help, I help. So when the call came I said I’d do it, host a roundtable and MC a farm rally. The rest of the day, it’s Stephane and me.
Of course everybody and his dog wants a piece of Stephane. Like I said, I’ve always admired the man but have never got to chat with him. During the roundtable I’m directing traffic and kibitzing with Stephane, helping him out with questions and stick handling with people who want more and more. All the while I hardly know any of the Liberals surrounding me. Regardless of my lack of political affiliation, I’m no dummy. For many that day, it was all about politics.
At the farm rally is was wild. However, I’ve managed wild before and it’s my job to tune the crowd up. Stephane looked like he was having fun. I enjoyed it but of course it wasn’t about me. At one point, I told the crowd I’ve spent the whole day with this man, but we’ve never chatted. The crowd tittered with laughter. I think Stephane smiled.
At the end of the day Stephane actually came up to me to chat. However, he was quickly whisked away. It was quite a day, Stephane and me. I hope someday he puts my name on a postcard and sends me his regards.