Share concerns, build relationships with MPs, lobbyist says

Speak with your local MP on a regular basis and don’t be afraid to share your concerns with them regardless of their political affiliation, a long-time lobbyist told farmers.

“Meet with your member of Parliament annually. That’s how you inform politicians. That’s where you can gain some real momentum and leverage. It only takes one MP to stand up at caucus and say I visited my constituents and this is the big issue,” said Dave Carey.

Carey, a professional lobbyist based in Ottawa, spoke about how farmers can have their voices heard in Ottawa during the opening day of Manitoba Ag Days 2024 in Brandon, Man. on Tuesday.  Carey is vice-president of government and industry relations with the Canadian Canola Growers Association. He’s also a former political staffer in Ottawa who has worked on three federal election campaigns.

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He said it’s crucial for farmers to build relationships with federal politicians regularly and not just in times of crisis. Often, the repercussions of a particular piece of legislation are not intentional, but the result of politicians not being aware of how their constituents feel on a particular issue.

“It’s imperative that we spend half an hour once a year meeting with our federal parliamentarian or provincial politicians so they know exactly how you feel,” he said. “They are professional meeting takers…so we need to spend 30 minutes with parliamentarians so that they know exactly how you feel. The only way (they) know is hearing directly from farmers.”

Carey said farmers should keep up to date on the issues affecting them by checking out a trusted news source, and not just ones that supports their own opinion. He said a website like nationalnewswatch.com is a great source of information because it details what issues are making news in Ottawa without a political bias.

“My advice is get informed and stay informed. It’s very easy to only read newspaper articles or whatever that support your opinion. Get out of your comfort and read some different things,” he said.

It’s also a good idea for producers to track how your local MP votes on issues that are important to them. Carey said the results can sometimes be surprising. An easy to do so is to register at the website openparliament.ca. It shows how each MP voted on a particular issue and users can sign up for email alerts that will let them know whether their local MP voted in favour of or against a government bill in Parliament.

“Support your preferred candidates, but don’t give Conservatives a pass. If your MP votes for something that you think is bad for your farm, let them know. If they vote a way that you and other constituents don’t agree with, you have to let them know. You have to hold them accountable the same way we are trying to hold the government accountable,” he said.

Even if a farmer isn’t interested in running for federal office, they can still play an big role in who represents their interests in Ottawa, Carey said. One way to do that is to pay attention when federal nominations are held in their riding and get involved in the process.

“Depending on where you are, the real election is often the nomination. If there’s four people putting their name up, make sure the best possible candidate gets the nomination and you have the best possible people representing you in Parliament.”

Another way for farmers to have their voice heard in Ottawa is to join the board of a provincial or federal producer group, Carey said. Those groups often take part in face-to-face meetings with federal officials.

“I work for an organization where our entire policy direction is set by our 10 elected farmer directors. They tell me what the priorities are and then we execute them,” he said. “Even if you’re not running, let the organization that you are paying your check off to know what your priorities and concerns are.”

– Jim Timlick is a reporter for Grainews magazine.