Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 26, 2012, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A11 T HERE are issues more important than supply management. There are parties that have more support than the Liberal party, and there are people with a higher profile than Martha Hall Findlay. How is it, then, that an academic paper by a former Liberal MP on an issue that remains obscure to most Canadians has raised such a fuss? I can think of a few reasons. One is the issue itself - the system of supply quotas that has governed dairy, poultry and egg production across Canada for the last four decades. It is timely, with the announcement that Canada will be joining negotiations on the Trans- Pacific Partnership, a nascent free- trade bloc, admission to which was until now conditional on the elimination of supply management. It may still be: the government has not been forthcoming on what terms it has accepted, or would in future. If the government were of a mind to get rid of supply management - it swears it is not - that is perhaps the only basis on which it could: our trading partners made us do it. Certainly it would not dream of doing so otherwise. Such is the power of the supplymanagement lobby, especially dairy, that a suffocating consensus has settled over the issue, of a kind rarely seen in a democracy. Consensus is not even the word. Every party strives to outdo the others in the fulsomeness of its support. Yet virtually every economist or policy analyst of note agrees that supply management is a disgrace. The primary effect of the quotas - the intended effect - is to drive up the price of these foods, staples of most Canadians' diets, to two and three times the market price. The burden of these extraordinary price differentials, of course, fall most heavily on the poor, a fact that ought to trouble self- styled " progressives" but evidently doesn't. But it isn't only consumers who pay. Since the quotas are tradable, the premium over market prices gets capitalized into the value of the quota. The right to a cow's worth of milk production, for example, runs to about $ 28,000, meaning a farmer looking to get into the industry faces an initial outlay, for the typical 60- cow farm, in excess of $ 1.5 million - just for the quota, never mind the cows, the barn and the rest. Indeed, the system isn't even serving the interests of dairy farmers, rightly considered. While they remain confined to the domestic market, Australia, New Zealand and other dairy exporters are catering to the expanding middle class in fast- growing emerging markets. So for Hall Findlay to come out against it is noteworthy in itself. Hall Findlay, an executive fellow at the University of Calgary's school of policy, is a well- regarded figure in the Liberal party who is widely expected to run for party leader. Quite on her own, she has made it thinkable for an elected politician to get on the wrong side of the dairy lobby. Her paper makes a particular contribution in this regard, pointing out how few dairy farms there really are: fewer than 13,000 across the country, a force ( more than 300 farms) in just 13 ridings. That Hall Findlay may be a candidate for leader is the second reason her intervention has had such impact. This is not, conventionally, how one kicks off a leadership bid - by taking firm hold of what is considered one of the deadliest " third rails" in Canadian politics. Nor can it be dismissed as a mere tactic: The paper is deeply researched, and obviously sincere. One suspects this will not be the last such controversial stand she will take, but rather signals her intent to set out a sharply different vision for her party. That's good for her, and better for the party. It is exactly the kind of bold break with the status quo the Liberal party needs to make. It is the kind of debate, the kind of politics, we all need, which is perhaps the greatest import of Hall Findlay's initiative. We have grown used to a politics in which no one ever says or does anything the least bit risky, and no one ever tells the truth unless by accident. Our politics has become, quite literally, a fantasy world, and nowhere more so than with regard to supply management. The unwillingness until now of anyone, literally anyone, to speak out against such a clearly indefensible policy speaks of a deeply entrenched culture of falseness and opportunism. While far from the most pressing issue before the nation, the divide between experts and evidence, on the one hand, and the political class, on the other, gives it unusual symbolic weight. Indeed, it can serve as a kind of litmus test, a benchmark of political seriousness. If you cannot bring yourself to say it is wrong to make poor families pay three times the market price of milk to prop up a handful of wealthy farmers, you are not in the business of serious politics. I've no idea whether Hall Findlay has any chance of being elected Liberal leader. I have no opinion on whether she should. But on this file, at this moment, she has shown a quality I'll venture to suggest might be desirable in a leader: leadership. Andrew Coyne is a national columnist for Postmedia News. Ethelbert rules I was pleased and honoured to be included in your June 23 feature Faces of our Ukrainian community , hailing as I do from that tiny but mighty bastion of Ukrainian culture, Ethelbert. Your article noted that the first MLA of Ukrainian descent ( Nicholas Hryhorczuk), the first senator of Ukrainian descent ( William Wall) and the father of computer animation, an Oscar winner ( Nestor Burtnyk) all come from Ethelbert. Your article didn't mention that Jordin Tootoo's mother, Rose, of Ukrainian descent, was our next- door Ethelbert neighbour. Had space permitted, you could have gone on about wheelchair- basketball champion Diane Pidskalny, and the remarkable number of priests and nuns who hail from humble Ethelbert - Pidskalnys, Pelechaty, Kozak, Klymchyk - you get the idea. I believe the evidence shows if you want to succeed to some extent in life, you would do well to trace some connection to Ethelbert. DANNY SCHUR Winnipeg �� While I understand the limitations of space, I feel that my father, William Vladimir ( Val) Yacula, should have been given mention. He was one of the first Ukrainian- Canadians to be elected as a member of Parliament in 1958. As well, he had the distinction of representing one of the largest constituencies in Canada, Springfield, which was later divided into five ridings. He was also a teacher, principal, school trustee and councillor. He authored textbooks for the Department of Education and he was also a businessman and hotel owner in St. Laurent, Lac du Bonnet, Whitemouth and Winnipeg. ELAINE YACULA Winnipeg �� I was surprised that an important citizen of our city was missed: Steve Patrick ( his name was changed during his career in football). Patrick played guard for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for many years. He sat as a Liberal member of the Manitoba Legislature for 16 years, and he was a businessman and volunteer in the community. Patrick and his wife, June, had five children, two of whom, James and Stephen, played professional hockey. I was saddened that he was not acknowledged. RITA BORTHWICK Winnipeg �� Joseph Zuken ( 1912- 1986)! TED JAWORSKI Winnipeg �� The special Ukrainian section in your paper over the weekend was wonderful. All those people who did so much for this province made good reading for me and I'm sure for many others. JAMES STANSFIELD Winnipeg Listen to experts Re: Horror to hope, to home ( June 23). Isn't it about time that those responsible for deciding on the contents of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights listen to leading experts on European history? As the article states, there are only 36 known photos of the Holodomor but there are thousands depicting the Holocaust, not to mention all the movies. Isn't it about time that the Holodomor's atrocities became better known? The suggestions put forward would be a good start. SADLEY MARCINYK Selkirk Minimal benefit Re: Ikea: Swedish word for jobs ( June 21). I've enjoyed the quality and design of Ikea furniture for over 30 years. My tube TV still sits on a piece. But the benefit to Winnipeg's economy of an Ikea opening here will be minimal. Unless consumers' discretionary spending increases, the added 350 jobs at Ikea will come at the expense of jobs lost at other furniture stores. Also, much of the cost of the furniture will go back to Sweden to pay the fabricators, weakening our economy and reducing sales from local furniture manufacturers. Hopefully, Ikea will attract more foreign spending - even Brandon is foreign to Winnipeg - to offset the export of monies to Sweden. By the way, I assume Sweden needs the money, being socialist and therefore an economic basket case. DAN CHECCINI Winnipeg Using same tactic Letter writer George Fritz ( Unneeded and impractical , June 22) calls a handgun ban illegal, unnecessary and unenforceable. That's exactly what the auto companies used to say about defective automobile recalls. In the United States, firearms now kill as many each year as die in fatal car crashes, which is both a tribute to a reformed auto industry and a great shame to the largely amoral firearms manufacturers. RON CHARACH Toronto Reverse sexism I can't help but wonder if Alex Chapman would be treated differently if he were a woman. A woman feels sexually harassed by her lawyer. She accepts a monetary amount to keep her quiet, then later realizes she doesn't feel safe and goes public. Demonizing Chapman, as Karen Busby and Lorna Turnbull choose to do in their June 21 piece, Humiliation of judge was avoidable, doesn't change the truth. I would strongly disagree with their opinion that the facts of this sad tale are well- known. There are many unanswered questions. I hope they are at least being answered behind closed doors. CLIFFORD WIEBE Winnipeg Dangerous wish Re: Exploiting shale gas ( Letters, June 22). Edward Katz should be careful of what he wishes for. Hydro- fracking carries with it the potential for severe environmental damage. At this moment, just across the border from us, hundreds of millions of cubic feet of natural gas are being flared ( burned) into the atmosphere in North Dakota from hydro- fracking in the Bakken formation, the same formation that extends into southwestern Manitoba. Is this really what we want? DENNIS LENEVEU Selkirk An awful portrayal Re : New ebook says Karla Homolka now a mother of three in the Caribbean ( June 22). Are you kidding me? Karla Homolka as the good mother? How awful of the Free Press to give any space to such horror. What's next? Paul Bernardo becomes surrogate sperm donor? Some things are better left unsaid. JAMES MARLES Winnipeg HAVE YOUR SAY: The Free Press welcomes letters from readers. Include the author's name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited. Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, R2X 3B6. Fax 697- 7412. Email letters@ freepress. mb. ca Letters represent the opinions of their writers and do not reflect the opinions of the Winnipeg Free Press or its staff. �� LETTER OF THE DAY Re: Must a life be preserved? ( Editorials, June 23). I am pleased to hear that Gloria Taylor, the woman suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease, has attained the right of self- determination to end her life in a dignified, peaceful manner under a doctor's supervision. It is a defeat for the so- called moral crusaders who wish to curtail a basic human right by spreading lies about slippery slopes and wanton killing of elderly people. If you examine the Dignitas model followed in Switzerland, you will see that it is the best for preventing abuse and should be looked at to be implemented into Canadian law. I believe the right to assisted suicide needs to be expanded to people who have suffered long- term mental illness. For over 20 years I have suffered from severe depression and anxiety, which have laid waste to every aspect of my life. I have never had a job, never had a girlfriend, I have no friends and I still live with my parents. My quality of life has been severely diminished, and each day is one of monotony and sadness. Medication and group therapy are of little benefit now. I am tired of the pain, tired of the struggle, and strongly believe I should have the right to assisted suicide by peaceful means instead of having to resort to dangerous methods that are terrifying to contemplate and may end up failing and causing more pain. Some people, including professionals, will quickly brush me off and label me delusional and irrational because of my mental illness. This is a great insult, for I am an autonomous thinking being who has thought long and hard about my situation. I am more than my illness. Who controls our lives? Who decides how much pain and lack of dignity someone suffering from a prolonged illness, whether it be physical or mental, must endure? GARY STIMPSON Winnipeg Winnipeg Free Press Tuesday, June 26, 2012 A 11 POLL �� TODAY'S QUESTION Are countdown signals at intersections helpful for pedestrians? �� Vote online at winnipegfreepress. com �� PREVIOUS QUESTION Did you check out the Red River Ex this year? Absolutely! It's a summer highlight - 13% ( 416 votes) I meant to, but never made it - 24% ( 746 votes) And get attacked with bear spray? No thanks - 63% ( 1992 votes) TOTAL RESPONSES 3,154 Winnipeg Free Press est 1872 / Winnipeg Tribune est 1890 VOL 140 NO 223 2012 Winnipeg Free Press, a division of FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership. Published seven days a week at 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2X 3B6, PH: 697- 7000 BOB COX / Publisher MARGO GOODHAND / Editor JULIE CARL / Deputy Editor Tired of pain and struggle ANDREW COYNE Hall Findlay challenges orthodoxy T EL AVIV - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin held private consultations on Iran, Egypt and Syria on Monday, the day after Mohammed Morsi became the new Egyptian president. Putin came to Israel on a one- day private visit during which he and President Shimon Peres inaugurated in Netanya a memorial to honour millions of Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War, whose sacrifices saved thousands of Jews from extermination in the Holocaust. In a private luncheon, host Netanyahu, Putin and others discussed the recent Egyptian elections, as well as Iran and Syria. Netanyahu invested much time on Iran and repeated Israel's three conditions for disarming Iran of its nuclear capabilities. Putin and Netanyahu took note that Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has promised to honour all Egyptian international commitments, including its peace treaty with Israel. Practically speaking, Morsi has no choice. He is trying to consolidate his power base and take back the executive powers he was stripped of by the Egyptian army - including the military budget and the right to declare war. Morsi is also determined to appoint his own government, without army interference. Morsi also has to put his house in order economically. Unemployment is high, tourism is almost dead and national income is down to a very dangerous level. Yet, in the presence of Putin, Netanyahu offered the new Egyptian regime help to solve its domestic problems. Much of luncheon was devoted to Syria. Following the downing of the Turkish fighter jet by Syria, Putin was clear: It may well be that the Turkish plane violated Syria's air space, but the plane should have been warned. The downing of the jet has raised regional tensions and NATO is to discuss the matter today. After recent Syrian parliamentary elections, where the local Syrian opposition took part, a new Syrian government was formed. Putin is reported to have told Netanyahu that he sees no reason why Russia should intervene in support of a Syrian opposition that is being armed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with the support of Turkey and the U. S. Conclusion? Syria has become a part of the regional balance of power, and Russia is determined to preserve its influence in Syria. The same could be said about Iran. Beyond nice words, there was no real change in Russia's position on Iran. Samuel Segev is the Winnipeg Free Press Middle East correspondent. SAMUEL SEGEV Putin shows flag in Israel, and little more A_ 11_ Jun- 26- 12_ FP_ 01. indd A11 6/ 25/ 12 9: 27: 34 PM ;