Farmer representatives and members of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), Quebec Farmers’ Association and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) hosted their annual Hill Lobby Day on Thursday, March 23 on Parliament Hill. I was one of 18 eastern Ontario OFA directors/members to attend this day-long event.
The Hill Lobby Day provided a great opportunity for Ontario and Canadian farmer representatives to bring key messages directly from grassroots members to our federal leaders. Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food addressed attendees and spoke about the importance and value of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
The event opened the door for discussions with Members of Parliament about key priorities impacting Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector including our role in driving economic growth, investments in infrastructure for transportation, broadband and natural gas infrastructure, climate change and a national Food Policy.
Two weeks earlier, 16 county OFA directors from eastern Ontario attended a presentation in Oxford Mills given by Howard Mains about the Hill Lobby and how to talk to the MPs. Mains is a farmer, an OFA member and a government lobbyist with 30-plus years of experience. He stressed using the same language as the young MPs. Use words such as “accountability” “diversity” “efficient” “inclusion”. He suggested engaging in telling a story about how your family cares for the land and environment for generations in the past, and generations to come. He recommended acknowledging and sharing their value set in your conversation. For example, ‘farm families are the first ones to feel the effects of climate change.’ Find ways to speak about farm families, not the family farm.
Avoid statistics and facts. Be positive.
He told the gathering to avoid acronyms such as PTO because an urban person does not understand what a PTO is. A question was asked: Would they know what a power-take-off is?
Farmers on the Hill —March 23
Eighteen eastern Ontario county OFA directors and members attended the annual Hill Lobby Day. The group went through security starting at 6:30 a.m. at four locations — two outside and two inside. The car I travelled in from Renfrew had items that had to be brought up to the Parliamentary Restaurant, which meant the car had to go through a security checkpoint and that allowed us to drive up to the entrance door and park nearby. Our bags and cases were checked at the entrance and each person was checked twice more and given a name card to wear. A full breakfast was enjoyed in the Parliamentary Restaurant from 7:15 to 8:45 a.m. where MP MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food addressed the gathering. Twenty-seven MPs and parliamentary staff had confirmed to be there.
The remainder of the day was spent in a room which was supplied with coffee, fruit and baked goods where MPs or staff could meet us. There was an emergency debate called late in the morning (day after the budget) so some of the MPs we were to visit were not available.
It was again a pleasure to chat with MP Wayne Easter who took time out of his busy schedule to meet with us. MP Easter is well known in the county having spoken here many times when he was the National Farmers Union president.
I heard a few farm participants say this is the way to meet with government officials and MPs and not by driving tractors and combines up to Parliament Hill, as used to be the case.
The day was very professionally done thanks to OFA staff and others. Attending from the Renfrew County Federation of Agriculture were David Campbell and Maynard van der Galien.
