I have thought long and hard about this particular post. The Green's platform consists of twelve pages with a mention of subsidies to help those farmers wishing to begin organic farming. That's it? Not quite, they have a full discussion of food, farming and other food issues in their Vision Green document. These posts were meant to review the platforms and not supporting documents, so I am not sure how to proceed in a fair and balanced manner. Wait a sec, I am not a journalist and I am not even a fake news show host so...
The Greens have the most comprehensive position on Food Issues but you can see the ideological underpinnings and I question these. Food safety is considered to be better with organics and I am not sure that is true. Yes, we have less residual pesticide and herbicide but throughout history there have been famines and food bourne illnesses that have been eradicated. There are so many other reasons to have organic foods in the mix that this focus seems narrow.
There is an anti corporate bent to the whole document and while I tend to be mistrustful and sometimes biased (Hello Starbucks), I am not totally against the idea of corporations. The food system is broken or at least not running optimal but to place the blame solely at the feet of corporations is to ignore some basic human self interest. Who chooses more expensive food over cheaper? Who buys tomatoes out of season and then complains about the taste but still wants a garden salad in January?
The best purpose of the Green Party's platform is to act like a slow trawler waiting to be pirated by the politicians. They are possibly the most fiscal conservative of the parties but to implement the changes that they suggest would mean a radical shift in the economy and I am not sure that mainstream Canadians are ready for it. I am sure that many of the sectors are not quite there but this type of switch would mean that the government is choosing new winners and losers.
This review of the platforms leaves me angry and cynical. In Canada, we traditionally vote for the least offensive option and I think that is what will happen this time as well.
Showing posts with label Federal Election 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Federal Election 2011. Show all posts
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Canadian Federal Election 2011: NDP Platform: Food Issues
Short and sweet, clearly stated on page 15. Better food safety by hiring more inspectors and giving the Canadian Food Inspection Agency more powers and wider mandate. Clearer labeling in regards to where the food is from, what it has in it and whether it is genetically modified (Does the Codex Alimentarius know about this?)
They also have a clear set of points aimed at Canadian Farmers that would apply largely to producers of all sizes. There are a few to the ideal of the farmer whose sons are leaving...but really seem more aimed at the new breed of niche market farmers.
Clean and clear. Speaks directly to voters and not couched in intricacies. Does this mean that the approach is too simple or does the NDP just have better writers? Next up...the Greens, I will be missing one party in my riding only because I was unable to find the Marxist-Lenin platform online.
They also have a clear set of points aimed at Canadian Farmers that would apply largely to producers of all sizes. There are a few to the ideal of the farmer whose sons are leaving...but really seem more aimed at the new breed of niche market farmers.
Clean and clear. Speaks directly to voters and not couched in intricacies. Does this mean that the approach is too simple or does the NDP just have better writers? Next up...the Greens, I will be missing one party in my riding only because I was unable to find the Marxist-Lenin platform online.
Canadian Federal Election 2011: Liberal Platform: Food Issues
So, the Liberals are making a National Food Policy a major plank. Food is mentioned substantially on pp.
34-35, 66-67, and 77. More does not make better or even more complete. National Food Policy is seen as part of health promotion and makes sense within the rest of the platform and focus on healthcare.
There are some fighting words about creating a new Healthy Choices program, progressive labeling regs and strong new regulatory standards on transfat and salt...a little late barndoor closing seems to be in effect. Maybe we should ban lead in food while we are at it. Also, the Healthy Choices always seems too open to private sector input. More money for Healthy Start which is an admirable program that promotes local food to low-income families and expanding the program.
There is a Buy Local Fund that would promote local and hope to create a Farmers' Market market, I guess. I'm not fond of intervention but I am not sure how else that this kind of pressure to create Canadian markets internally could be accomplished. There are some that would suggest that if a farmer can't make it on their own, then they should fold. I somewhat agree with this but there is already so much interference and subsidies to the larger actors that something must be done to even out the field. So, pending an overhaul of the system, this would be a good interim step to fixing the system.
Oh, and fix the Food Inspection...seems reasonable... but at what cost? Reminds me that we have had some issues with Chinese imports. An aside, still can't get local garlic at the chain grocery stores...get it at the farmer's market. Yeah, it's more expensive but not bleached and really fresh.
There is some lip service to finding a better way to develop and build farm programs from a bottom up structure to allow flexibility of local markets to better serve their needs.
The general gist is that we have a great environment and safe food and this is an exportable commodity. The Liberals will try to ensure that agreements can be made with China and India.
Overall this platform has enough detail that the merits of different types of intervention can at least be discussed. Costing is provided, some concrete examples are there. I, at least, have something that I can crab about.
34-35, 66-67, and 77. More does not make better or even more complete. National Food Policy is seen as part of health promotion and makes sense within the rest of the platform and focus on healthcare.
There are some fighting words about creating a new Healthy Choices program, progressive labeling regs and strong new regulatory standards on transfat and salt...a little late barndoor closing seems to be in effect. Maybe we should ban lead in food while we are at it. Also, the Healthy Choices always seems too open to private sector input. More money for Healthy Start which is an admirable program that promotes local food to low-income families and expanding the program.
There is a Buy Local Fund that would promote local and hope to create a Farmers' Market market, I guess. I'm not fond of intervention but I am not sure how else that this kind of pressure to create Canadian markets internally could be accomplished. There are some that would suggest that if a farmer can't make it on their own, then they should fold. I somewhat agree with this but there is already so much interference and subsidies to the larger actors that something must be done to even out the field. So, pending an overhaul of the system, this would be a good interim step to fixing the system.
Oh, and fix the Food Inspection...seems reasonable... but at what cost? Reminds me that we have had some issues with Chinese imports. An aside, still can't get local garlic at the chain grocery stores...get it at the farmer's market. Yeah, it's more expensive but not bleached and really fresh.
There is some lip service to finding a better way to develop and build farm programs from a bottom up structure to allow flexibility of local markets to better serve their needs.
The general gist is that we have a great environment and safe food and this is an exportable commodity. The Liberals will try to ensure that agreements can be made with China and India.
Overall this platform has enough detail that the merits of different types of intervention can at least be discussed. Costing is provided, some concrete examples are there. I, at least, have something that I can crab about.
Canadian Federal Election 2011: Conservative Platform: Food Issues
The platform contains two pages (58-59) on Food Issues, mostly around ensuring that Canadian farmers have access to other markets and protection in trade negotiations and disputes. Somehow I doubt that this is for small or even medium size farms. I know that there are few family farms extant but I still like to think that there are many smaller concerns that are not part of the larger agri business that are putting out good products. The achievement that the Conservative Party points out is the canola exports to China.
We can expect a National Farm and Food Strategy sometime "to sustain the Canadian family farm, to strengthen food safety, and to open new markets for the world-class products of Canadian farmers." I can't decode the double speak in this statement and do not know enough of the players but it may be in response to the fact that during the last parliament there was a major food safety issue around meats, and I guess the continuing use of mad cow as a trade barrier.
Oh, and farmers will have access to fast tracked innovations done elsewhere -- sounds like big companies finding a way of developing one product and having streamlined access to Canadian markets. There are two more paragraphs about cheese compositional standards and the Wheat Board. The cheese thing bothers me as it states that cheese compositional standards ensure that real milk is an ingredient in Canadian cheese--are we importing milk and/or milk protein concentrates? Interesting question.
Nothing excites me about this platform. Basically, nothing to see here until the promise of a strategy is fulfilled. Still, nothing to cause me to vote against them.
We can expect a National Farm and Food Strategy sometime "to sustain the Canadian family farm, to strengthen food safety, and to open new markets for the world-class products of Canadian farmers." I can't decode the double speak in this statement and do not know enough of the players but it may be in response to the fact that during the last parliament there was a major food safety issue around meats, and I guess the continuing use of mad cow as a trade barrier.
Oh, and farmers will have access to fast tracked innovations done elsewhere -- sounds like big companies finding a way of developing one product and having streamlined access to Canadian markets. There are two more paragraphs about cheese compositional standards and the Wheat Board. The cheese thing bothers me as it states that cheese compositional standards ensure that real milk is an ingredient in Canadian cheese--are we importing milk and/or milk protein concentrates? Interesting question.
Nothing excites me about this platform. Basically, nothing to see here until the promise of a strategy is fulfilled. Still, nothing to cause me to vote against them.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Canadian Federal Election 2011: French Debate
Of all the debates and appearances, I expected this one with its gallic influences and social conscience audience to contain at least a passing reference to farming. It didn't. I am surprised because there was a lot of precise and pedestrian questions around, what is a person with three kids and two jobs to do or I am 53 and things aren't looking so good.
I am not trying to trivialize those concerns but in a province that prides itself on its heritage and is so concerned with food, you would expect that the rising food costs would begin to register in this election. There was some discussion about gas and maybe that is the proxy. Maybe, due to our insulation against food costs, the issue hasn't hit us. However, it is helpful to note that many of the protests occuring in the Middle East and North Africa have some elements of agriculture and food unrest -- bread hats in Egypt come to top of head.
Hopefully, in the next few weeks, I will look at the platforms and see if anything specific is offered. While I realize that this only one plank in a platform, it will help me decide whom I will vote for if a strong preference for local candidate does not present itself.
I am not trying to trivialize those concerns but in a province that prides itself on its heritage and is so concerned with food, you would expect that the rising food costs would begin to register in this election. There was some discussion about gas and maybe that is the proxy. Maybe, due to our insulation against food costs, the issue hasn't hit us. However, it is helpful to note that many of the protests occuring in the Middle East and North Africa have some elements of agriculture and food unrest -- bread hats in Egypt come to top of head.
Hopefully, in the next few weeks, I will look at the platforms and see if anything specific is offered. While I realize that this only one plank in a platform, it will help me decide whom I will vote for if a strong preference for local candidate does not present itself.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Federal Election 2011: First Debate -- Food Issues
Nope.
Got nothing...almost nothing. The Liberals mentioned their National Food Policy in passing as 'putting Canadian food on Canadian plates'.
At a stretch, the temporary workers could refer to Canada's dirty little secret of migrant workers. Maybe the coming rising food prices could come under the economy but what part of the economy? Wages, farm subsidies, corporate taxes, strength of the Canadian dollar, environmental factors leading to decreasing yields or what.
Regardless, I am not looking forward to another debate tonight, if very few issues are actually going to be discussed but it is my responsibility as a voter...and I will have to watch something until the Vancouver game is on. Go 'Nucks.
Got nothing...almost nothing. The Liberals mentioned their National Food Policy in passing as 'putting Canadian food on Canadian plates'.
At a stretch, the temporary workers could refer to Canada's dirty little secret of migrant workers. Maybe the coming rising food prices could come under the economy but what part of the economy? Wages, farm subsidies, corporate taxes, strength of the Canadian dollar, environmental factors leading to decreasing yields or what.
Regardless, I am not looking forward to another debate tonight, if very few issues are actually going to be discussed but it is my responsibility as a voter...and I will have to watch something until the Vancouver game is on. Go 'Nucks.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Canadian Federal Election 2011: Of Food and Farming
So far this election, I have avoided reading blogs about food and politics as I wanted to read the platforms and form my own opinions and thoughts. Tonight is the first of the debates and I am wondering whether any of the parties or leaders will get into one of the most basic needs.
What is the role of the federal government in food? It seems, by my perception, that it works to act as a mediator between agricultural producers (not farmers) and markets (not consumers or people who eat food -- everyone). Regulations seem to be aimed at larger producers to ensure minimal food safety and maximum access to markets with some protection for the sustainability of the food supply thrown in. Put another way -- How much money can be made by selling to which people without destroying the natural resource available?
The other side of the coin is the health benefits of food and food products which is Health Canada`s bailiwick. It always seems as if there is a struggle between known nutritional science and concerned corporations. Food guides are political beasts. Anything by Marion Nestle can destroy your good mood and belief in the idea that the goverment is their only to serve your best interests as an individual.
The first and easiest `fix` would be to create a department of Food and Farming, deliberately reducing the Agri-Food influence. Then the discussion could be around whether Agri-business belongs and what its position would be in terms of the other smaller players -- farmers, chefs, and all the rest of us. It could act as a point to refocus what the electorate thinks the government should be doing rather than act as a guide to corporations to determine the discussion.
In the next few weeks, I will try my best to delve into the platforms and try to see where each party`s policy could make sense. Being no expert, all I can offer is my opinion but having lived in a rural subsistence milieu, growing up with vegetable gardens, moving to big cities and seeing the rise of buy local; I believe I have some insight. Barring all that, we all eat food--makes us all experts...I should think.
What is the role of the federal government in food? It seems, by my perception, that it works to act as a mediator between agricultural producers (not farmers) and markets (not consumers or people who eat food -- everyone). Regulations seem to be aimed at larger producers to ensure minimal food safety and maximum access to markets with some protection for the sustainability of the food supply thrown in. Put another way -- How much money can be made by selling to which people without destroying the natural resource available?
The other side of the coin is the health benefits of food and food products which is Health Canada`s bailiwick. It always seems as if there is a struggle between known nutritional science and concerned corporations. Food guides are political beasts. Anything by Marion Nestle can destroy your good mood and belief in the idea that the goverment is their only to serve your best interests as an individual.
The first and easiest `fix` would be to create a department of Food and Farming, deliberately reducing the Agri-Food influence. Then the discussion could be around whether Agri-business belongs and what its position would be in terms of the other smaller players -- farmers, chefs, and all the rest of us. It could act as a point to refocus what the electorate thinks the government should be doing rather than act as a guide to corporations to determine the discussion.
In the next few weeks, I will try my best to delve into the platforms and try to see where each party`s policy could make sense. Being no expert, all I can offer is my opinion but having lived in a rural subsistence milieu, growing up with vegetable gardens, moving to big cities and seeing the rise of buy local; I believe I have some insight. Barring all that, we all eat food--makes us all experts...I should think.
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