This morning on CBC's programme The House, the question of the viability of small towns on the Canadian Prairie was raised in a documentary focused primarily around Vanguard Saskatchewan. Following the documentary, they had a so-called "Expert" come on and say that not all towns or farms are viable, and that the economics of the situation needs to be considered.
WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP !!!! Here's an idea: Pay our farmers what they deserve. This is not about good business models. This is not about adapting to the world market. This is about farmers, and their families being paid what the commodities they produce are WORTH, NOT what the world market is willing to pay. The very thought of subsidies are anathema to Governments, but when the playing surface is UNEVEN and the other players happily continue to subsidize thier farmers, then why do we NOT ?????
Rural communities are dying - not because they can't compete, but because the market is NOT playing fairly ... The market is stacked against the rural families, and stacked in favour of the multi-nationals.
The farmer in the documentary put it well - he pointed out that one bushel of barley creates 33 bottles of beer ... "Why can't you buy one bottle of beer with what you get paid for that bushel of barley ???"
That kind of says it all ... if you work hard, you shouldn't be poor ... and until our Agriculture Minister figures it out nothing will change ...
Today our rural areas are crying out not for hand outs, but for a hand up and for JUSTICE ... they deserve to be PAID MORE for their produce ... it's that simple !!!
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