Politicians converge on soggy plowing match
WALTON, ONT. Descending on smalltown Huron County, Ontario’s Big Three party leaders brought praise and promises Tuesday to legions of farmers gathered for North America’s largest agricultural show, being held in the heart of the province’s richest farm belt.
The opening day of the International Plowing Match in Walton, 30 kilometres east of Goderich, brought the politicians championing themselves as the voice for rural Ontario, ahead of a provincial election due by next June.
The International Plowing Match (IPM) has turned a 1,000acre property into Huron County’s largest city for the next four days, with more than 600 vendors showcasing the latest in agriculture technology and innovation.
The five-day event has a long history of attracting politicians and Tuesday was no exception.
Premier Kathleen Wynne looked the part with her cowboy hat, jeans and rubber boots, but the Liberal leader took the stage at the opening ceremony to a cool reception.
Wynne addressed the fears many farmers have as Canada enters North American Free Trade negotiations with the United States.
“I just want you to know that I have consistently made it clear that agriculture in Ontario in an important
part in our economy and we are going to stand up for Ontario agriculture as we go through these conversations,” Wynne said.
New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath said farmers need a premier who works for them.
“Life in rural Ontario has never been easy, but today it’s actually getting harder,” she said. “The services you count (on) also are being squeezed and the cost of farming and raising a family just seems to be going up.”
Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown, who received the warmest welcome at the opening ceremony, pledged to make farmers’ voices heard. “Now more than ever we need a strong farming sector and we need that farming sector to have a voice in decision making,” said Brown, who held a round table with farmers. “We need to stand up for our farmers in Ontario.”
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said, “We will work with any party that’s willing to stand up and defend family farmers and preserve farm land in this province, because the reality is we’re losing far too many farmers and far too much farmland at an unsustainable rate, and we need government to have your back.”
An overnight downpour that turned the IPM’s sprawling tent city into a muddy mess also dashed a longtime tradition — and great photo opportunity — for the politicians.
The party leaders traditionally mount tractors and compete to plow the best furrow, but organizers had to cancel the event this year. Conservative MP Ben Lobb, whose Huron-Bruce riding encompasses Walton, drew laughter with his remark. “My suggestion for next year’s plowing match is more farmers and less politicians.”