Is Canada headed in the right direction?
Poor leadership, high taxation and push toward communism worry farmers
WOODSTOCK — Farmers Forum was at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock last month and asked, “Is Canada headed in the right direction?” We found that Ontario farmers generally don’t think so. They are worried about their country. From uninspiring leadership to excessive taxation and the dismantling of free markets, frustration abounds. Here’s a selection of interviews.
“Absolutely not. The direction that we’re headed now is such a dangerous direction, people don’t even realize it. What we believe as truth has been undermined so greatly, and I believe personally that comes from our separation from God as the foundation.
“I heard somebody say, capitalism doesn’t work. Capitalism works, but if you’ve taken away all the aspects of respect for one another, and you’ve changed it completely to (a philosophy) where everybody’s right, nobody can be wrong, then that’s not respect anymore, either. Personally, I would say the reason Canada is losing its way is its denial of the existence of God.”
Andy Kroondyk
Egg farmer
Brownsville, Ont.
“Economically, I think everything keeps going up. Socially, I think it’s going south. We’re too urban driven in this country, and we’re too special-interest driven. Every commercial you see has a political agenda. Everybody has problems the government can solve with money, you know what I mean?”
Brian Stackhouse
Cash crops
St. Williams, Ont.
“Probably not. Economically, they’re putting up interest rates. It’s to curb inflation but we’ll see an impact from that into the future.”
Mike Weber
Dairy farmer,
Gowanstown, Ont.
“No. Farming is all for the big guys. I see it with dairy farmers. I see it with cash crop farmers.
“I have two sons here in Canada, one has started an organic cash-crop farm and the other wants to start an organic dairy but can’t find a solution. That’s a bit of a sad thing. On the other hand, we came here from Belgium five years ago, and there is still more opportunity here than in Belgium. But we are struggling more than we expected.”
Wilfred Van Loocke
Hobby farmer
Ayr, Ont.
“No. Canada is not on the right track. We’re going toward more of a socialist or communist world view.
“It’s not a country built on love principles (anymore). We were a Christian nation, but now we’re running on fear. They’re pushing a fear factor on us. Do this or else. The government is wrong in what they’re doing. It’s terrible.”
Graham Sarloos
Cash crops and beef farmer
Aylmer, Ont.
“No, Canada’s definitely not on the right track with the kind of leadership that we have. Nationally and even provincially I’m concerned. (our leaders) are more interested and concerned about carbon. Carbon has become a four-letter word.
“What’s starting to concern me more than before is the loss of our farmland. I can remember over 50 years ago the local federations were concerned about loss of farmland to urbanization and development. And it’s still happening today, and I think that is a bigger problem. It’s definitely a far bigger problem than carbon emissions. We shouldn’t be wasting our time and energy worrying about that. Carbon has been emitted by agriculture since agriculture first started … at the very beginning. We’ve always had carbon emissions and always will. That’s not the problem.”
Fraser Hodgson
Cow-calf beef and crops
Lambton Shores, Ont.
“Not at all. In every way. I feel we’re headed for a financial crisis with the housing the way it is. It’s like a slow-moving train. People have to renew their interest rates for a house. It’s not going to be a good situation.”
Paul Shelton
Former dairy farmer
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont.
“No. We’re going the same way that they’ve gone in Holland. The prime minister of Holland and Mr. Trudeau are all connected through the World Economic Forum. And that’s going in the wrong direction.
“If we get Mr. Poilievre, then maybe we go in the right direction. If you leave the farmers alone, they will do a good job. Which farmer do you know that is wasting money? They say you put too much fertilizer on the field or burn too much diesel fuel, well, that’s throwing money away and the farmer doesn’t throw money away. It makes no sense. You really think I’m going to put a pound more of fertilizer on the field than necessary? You think I burn a litre more of diesel fuel than I have to? Trudeau, leave the Canadian people alone and they will straighten things out. All that he’s done is wreck things for people. Too many rules. Leave the farmers alone.
“Why is a guy like Trudeau telling us what to do? He’s never even had a flippin’ job. He has no degree, no education, nothing finished. Let him try to farm. He would go broke in no time.”
Martin Van Den Broek
Cow-calf operator
Brechin, Ont.
“I think so. We’re still a first-world country. We’re doing alright. Just look around here (at all the young farm families with children). We’re going to replace the current generation of farmers.”
Jon Wiley
Dairy and cash crops
Meaford, Ont.
“Nope. Not at all. Basically, our government right now is in bed with the World Economic Forum, which wants to create a ruling class over the rest of us ‘useless eaters,’ as they call us.”
Dave Eby
Cash cropper
Waterloo, Ont.
