Federal election reaction: No surprise, agriculture ignored, “all is lost”

OTTAWA — Federal election reaction: No surprise, agriculture ignored, “all is lost,” Canada “a great place to live.”

The federal election revealed numerous divides: East-West, Quebec-everyone else and urban-rural. Ontario farm country voted Conservative and the cities voted Liberal. Ottawa, Toronto, London and Hamilton were islands of red in a sea of blue. Farmers and farm organizations had plenty to say.

Hours before the election results came in, Wellington County farmer Shawn Schill offered this bit of poesy on Twitter: “Now I lay me down to rest . . . I pray for my country’s political best . . . if I should rise and all I see is red . . . I apologize in advance for all my bad words that will be said.”
When enough votes were counted Western Ontario crop farmer and agronomist Phillip Shaw tweeted: “No surprise . . . Liberal minority.”

Looking at voter breakdown, Athens beef farmer Kim Sytsma observed: “Every Liberal riding and its supporters will eat today, their food will come from Blue ridings. Will Agriculture even be noticed in the HoC? Agriculture was hardly discussed during the election campaign (by any party).”

Western Ontario cash crop and veggie farmer Ronald VanDamme encouraged drastic measures: “All is lost. We must abandon our holdings here and look as our forefathers did for a new land.”

Western Ontario hog farmer Stewart Skinner had these calming words: “Nothing is ever as good or as bad as a politician claims it to be and Canada will always be a great place to live regardless of who sits in our PMO and the House of Commons.”

Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Keith Currie said the minority government represents an opportunity. “When Canadians cast their ballots and chose a minority government, they sent a signal to politicians about the need for collaboration. In the agriculture industry, we understand the value of working together towards a common goal, and we look to our elected officials to find common ground.”

The Grain Farmers of Ontario was quick to talk trade. In a statement, GFO chair Markus Haerle said: “Grain farmers look to the new government to find common ground to ensure that trade barriers are removed, new markets are opened, farm business protection programs are enacted, and environmental policy is realistic and meaningful.”