Green Party feels snubbed by agriculture federation
The leaders of the Green Party and the New Democratic Party won't be addressing the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture's annual general meeting Friday — unlike the Liberal and Progressive Conservatives leadership hopefuls — because they weren't invited.
Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker says there's lots he'd like to speak to farmers about if given the chance.
"Of course it's their AGM and they can invite whom they wish," he said.
"But I think it's a little odd and I'm quite disappointed personally that neither Mike Redmond nor myself was invited. We have some really important things to say on agriculture."
Members of the Federation of Agriculture are scheduled to hear 10-minute presentations from the future Liberal leader Wade MacLauchlan and the three candidates hoping to lead the Tories, James Aylward, Darlene Compton and Rob Lantz.
It wasn't a slight, says John Jamieson, executive director of the Federation of Agriculture, the Tories and Liberals were invited because they're selecting new leaders.
He added it is a two-way street. Unlike the Tories and Liberals, neither party has ever come to the federation for input on agricultural policies.
"Never once," said Jamieson.
"That tells me they're developing ag policy in a vacuum. And it's like developing health or education policy without talking with anyone involved."
The federation says it will invite all party leaders to a debate during the next election.
Bevan-Baker said he'll seek an opportunity to address federation members before then.
For mobile device users:Should the Federation of Agriculture have invited the Greens and NDP to their AGM?
