No clear solution for farmers after public forum

By Ryan Ross

Hog farmer Gordon Lank stood in the crowded hallway at the Kensington legion as he waited for the CBC public forum on the beef and pork industries.
People lined the walls, three deep in places, as about 400 people crammed into the main hall to voice their concerns about the state of P.E.I.’s farmers.
The crowd spilled out into the hallway where Lank discussed the turnout with the farmers around him.
“If nobody came it wouldn’t be a good indication.”
Lank was a life-long farmer who raised both beef and pork.
“Lucky aren’t I.”
He still has pigs going through the hog plant but expects them to be gone around the middle of the summer.
“We’re going out of the hogs.”
In the main hall, CBC anchor Bruce Rainnie moderated the discussion as farmers and other stakeholders in the industry pressed through the crowd.
They made their way to one of the microphones set up for questions directed to a panel that included Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan and Agriculture Minister Neil LeClair.
Sheridan listened to farmers’ concerns about meat imports from other countries and government aid to countries like Argentina where they are having problems with hoof and mouth disease.
“It’s despicable,” Sheridan said.
The discussion moved from one topic to the next as farmers blamed retailers, free trade, subsidies in other countries and a lack of government funding for some of the problems facing the industry.
Lank pushed his way through the crowd to voice his concerns about the lack of exports since the industry was crippled by the mad cow scare almost five years ago,
“We’re not competitive any more.”
While the panel agreed exports are a problem, they also addressed concerns about the ability to buy local products in the big retail chains owned by companies like Sobeys or Loblaws.
For Sheridan, it’s a consumer’s choice and they need to tell the stores they don’t want outside products.
“Bring in what we want to buy.”
The issue of buying local was raised again by Malpeque MP Wayne Easter when he referred to recent stories in the news about massive recalls in Japan and the United States.
“Where do Canadians want their food to come from?”
When the meeting was over, Lank moved through the thinning crowd, shaking hands with some of the farmers sticking around to speak with Sheridan.
Lank didn’t expect the meeting to have much of an effect.
“You never know what affects anything.”