INTERVIEW WITH MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE HELEN JOHNS

Farmers Forum: You have an MBA. Where did you get it?

Helen Johns: That was a long time ago. Simon Fraser University.

FF: You must have had a business interest. What was the good of an MBA?

Johns: I needed a base for business, to learn how to get a world view, to plan, to prepare a vision.

FF: Will that help you now?

Johns: Agriculture is Ontario’s second largest industry but it’s going through challenging times. Something needs to happen in the province. Agriculture needs to be shaped into its relationship with world agriculture and enshrined in provincial policy.

FF: You come from a rural riding but have no farm background.

Johns: I’ve been representing my riding for seven years. It has the largest farm gate receipts of any riding in Ontario. The Federation of Agriculture spent a lot of time with me getting me through the issues.

FF: Bill 81, the Nutrient Management Bill.

Johns: I’ll put it through as quickly as I can. But we have to have consultation on the regulations. We still have to look at grand fathering and things like size. Do we apply this to just new barns or existing barns? We’ll have to do some partnering with the rural community and the federal government for funding.

FF: We have a safety net program, but there has been great dissatisfaction among crop producers.

Johns: We need to apply some vision and thought to this area. Bob Speller, a federal MP, has come up with a number of good recommendations in his report. He is saying that something has to be done to get agriculture through this period. I have a meeting with the federal minister and we’ll discuss this. We’ll look at the 40 to 60 per cent ratio of aid from provincial and federal governments. Maybe this will have to be changed.

FF: In one of minister Coburn’s public outings he defended himself and the government’s support, saying "I can’t dance alone". Do you have any support?

Johns: We have three people at the table. Chris Hodgins, Brian Coburn and myself. We have some support. But there are many departments competing for money. I think we’re doing as much as we can.