Marshall Buchanan, president of the National Farmers Union of Renfrew County, Local 330. (Marshall Buchanan photo)
Is the tradition of hearing from election candidates at public debates going by the wayside?
That’s the question being raised by Marshall Buchanan, president of the National Farmers Union of Renfrew County, Local 330, after he tried to organize a debate for the federal election candidates in our Algonquin-Renfrew-Pembroke riding.
When Buchanan, who himself ran as an NDP candidate in the recent Ontario election, was unable to secure attendance from several of our area’s candidates at a proposed upcoming debate in Cobden, the organization pivoted and decided to host private candidate visits at several area farms.
He lamented the lack of an in-person debate, however, saying they can be a rite of passage for new voters.
Debates are important, secular traditions, he said, that give voters a chance to meet candidates, see their emotional intelligence, their ability to think on their feet, and their personality.
The face-to-face contact is important and can’t be replicated on social media, said Buchanan.
Buchanan owns Ottawa Valley Farm to Fork, described as a mix of agri-tourism and mixed regenerative farming, that was one of three farms several candidates were scheduled to visit.
Canola and grains farm Bonnechere Haven Farm as well as dairy producers Lindmilk Farms were also on the roster.
Among the main issues he and the other farmers would likely address with candidates are opening up markets for canola exports and dealing with the tariffs that are punishing farmers who have very little control. If farmers have already bought the seed, they are locked in to growing what they had planned last November, he explained.
He’s hoping there could be a compensation program or strategy to open some new markets around the world.
When it comes to dairy, Canada has supply management in milk and the U.S. doesn’t.
Accepting new milk would force dairy farmers to cut back on what they’re already producing but they’ve purchased the right to produce what they are and the system and supply is stable.
It’s important to have federal candidates who understand the issues and will advocate for farmers.
For local products, the business Buchanan is in, the lack of local processing is the big issue.
No local egg grading stations means local eggs can’t be sold at farmers’ markets, aside from the Mennonite community, who have one for their farms.
A food hub or local buying network would be ideal, he said.
There is the Ottawa Valley Co-operative, which is a local buying hub that runs year-round but what Buchanan imagines is something on a larger scale.
Now that there’s a ‘buy local’ campaign being espoused by most every political party, it’s time to move ahead on the issue or at least get the conversation started, said Buchanan.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)