Federal politics is starting to make my professional life a bitch.

You know, the United States has alot of complaints about us here. But ive eaten tons of Alberta beef surrounded by mosquitos, in downtown Toronto with someone next to me sneezing on a softwood picnic tablebut you dont hear me complaining.

Now the biggest thing in the new is the softwood lumber dispute. We subsidize our lumber, Americans say that it negatively affects their economy, they impose duties. I get an email from the VP operations today that someone somewhere in the States are subsidizing their corn, and the Quebec and Ontario are investigating this to decide whether they will impose some duties of their own as a countervail. So we are looking at the price of corn to go up anywheres from $50 to $90 per ton extra. And of course, the markets being the way they are, wheat, barley and oats will soon follow.

Which makes my life at work hell. Its not like farmers in the maritimes (or anywhere else for that matter) have money to throw around, but its the fact that they are the end of the line. As a feed company we can pass the cost on to the customers. Who the hell do the farmers pass the cost along to? When gas goes up, they bite the bulet to fuel their machinery. When feed goes up, they bite the bullet and pay the money. And all the while our government nickles and dimes them for milk prices. So as a company rep, I have to try to explain the situation to them without having their frustrations vented out on me which I completely sympathise with having lived my life on a farm.

I dont know why our governments frig around with this tit-for-tat bullshit and just get thing done.

Makenna for PM!!!!!!!!

-Matt

Federal politics is starting to make my professional life a bitch.
I dont know why our governments frig around with this tit-for-tat bullshit and just get thing done.

:cry

Care to elaborate? If you dont have anything useful to add to the topic, just stay out.

-Matt

Federal politics is starting to make my professional life a bitch.
I dont know why our governments frig around with this tit-for-tat bullshit and just get thing done.
Care to elaborate? If you dont have anything useful to add to the topic, just stay out.

-Matt
elaborate?
OK, (if you insist)
Tit-for-tat and bullshit is what makes our Federal Governments wheels turn.
Not getting things done is nothing new to us.:banghead
It some times shames me to call myself a Canadian, when we are represented, by such blithering idiots.
Yes Matthew, there is issues about soft wood and beef, that probably gives you stress in your chosen line of work, but in the grand scheme of things that's a small tip of the proverbial iceberg and everybody has a story like yours.
Your story about the trouble this causes for you at work made me feel so sad Matthew, I just wanted to cry.:cry

elaborate?
OK if you insist
Tit-for-tat and bullshit is what makes our Federal Governments wheels turn.
Not getting things done is nothing new to us.:banghead
It some times shames me to call myself a Canadian, when we are represented, by such blithering idiots.
Yes Matthew, there is issues about soft wood and beef, that probably gives you stress in your chosen line of work, but in the grand scheme of things that's a small tip of the proverbial iceberg and everybody has a story like yours.
Your story about the trouble this causes for you at work made me feel so sad Matthew, I just wanted to :cry

You know, I tried to keep it civil and private in a PM, but once again you bring it to the forum. Fine.

As I said, all I was trying to do was get SOME sort of activity in the Canada forum. Its probably one of the slowest ones here. I thought some people might find it interesting and have some sort of meaningful feedback, or something to add. All we have now is you jumping in with some bullshit response just like you did in the French thread.

Im not trying to come across like "oh woe is me, my life is over!", and im fully aware that our governments actions effect the lives of many other Canadians and many times more seriously. But, like I said....just trying to stimulate discussion. Maybe others here have similar stories. Maybe we can have a discussion about current US/Canada relations.

What exactly is your purpose on FSB? Is it to learn and participate? If so I have'nt seen evidence of it yet.

-Matt

Listen Mathew, you asked for me to elaborate, so shutup, pull up your skirt and take it like a big girl when somebody makes fun of one of your posts.
What exactly is your purpose on FSB? Is it to learn and participate? If so I have'nt seen evidence of it yet. Just who the flock do you think you are that I need your approval to be on this forum? I've probably forgotten more than you will ever learn on this forum (and I haven't forgotten much)
If my posts bother you so much, block them.
As far as the response in the "French thread" being BS, I don't apologise for what is the truth. Part of the problem with this Country is that there are too many dickheads like you.:duel
Are we having fun yet?

I personally thank you for posting jimsl78. I wasn't sure if there were any assholes in Canada or not... Now I know. Thanks again :goodfinge

no not particularly. why do people get off giving others shit? doesn't make any sense to me. especially when they start bad mouthing someone on the internet that they have very limited communications with. but I guess this is what makes me human, and our world go round.

I personally thank you for posting jimsl78. I wasn't sure if there were any assholes in Canada or not... Now I know. Thanks again :goodfinge
include me in that ever growing list.

It some times shames me to call myself a Canadian, when we are represented, by such blithering idiots.

And the U.S. isn't? Still rather be Canadian.

I wasn't sure if there were any assholes in Canada or not... Now I know.

Don't be fooled. We have many assholes up here. :histerica

Don't be fooled. We have many assholes up here. :histericafrozen assholes who live in ice tents with hemeroids

frozen assholes who live in ice tents with hemeroids

At least we're not being invaded by Mexico on a daily basis.

At least we're not being invaded by Mexico on a daily basis.
No, but thanks to are crappy immigration laws we are being invaded by
"so called" refugees from every third world country in the middle east and asia.
I think at least in the US when you deport the assholes they actually go home, (at least for awhile)

Federal politics is starting to make my professional life a bitch.

You know, the United States has alot of complaints about us here. But ive eaten tons of Alberta beef surrounded by mosquitos, in downtown Toronto with someone next to me sneezing on a softwood picnic tablebut you dont hear me complaining.

Now the biggest thing in the new is the softwood lumber dispute. We subsidize our lumber, Americans say that it negatively affects their economy, they impose duties. I get an email from the VP operations today that someone somewhere in the States are subsidizing their corn, and the Quebec and Ontario are investigating this to decide whether they will impose some duties of their own as a countervail. So we are looking at the price of corn to go up anywheres from $50 to $90 per ton extra. And of course, the markets being the way they are, wheat, barley and oats will soon follow.

Which makes my life at work hell. Its not like farmers in the maritimes (or anywhere else for that matter) have money to throw around, but its the fact that they are the end of the line. As a feed company we can pass the cost on to the customers. Who the hell do the farmers pass the cost along to? When gas goes up, they bite the bulet to fuel their machinery. When feed goes up, they bite the bullet and pay the money. And all the while our government nickles and dimes them for milk prices. So as a company rep, I have to try to explain the situation to them without having their frustrations vented out on me which I completely sympathise with having lived my life on a farm.

I dont know why our governments frig around with this tit-for-tat bullshit and just get thing done.

Makenna for PM!!!!!!!!

-Matt

Matt

I live in farm country, 20 miles South of gravy-town (Ottawa, Canada's national capital) in fact.

That's as far as you need drive from the center of the universe (in the politician's eyes) to find out that farmer's are getting reemed up the keester, royally by the government.

I just got back from centertown's Byward market and an organic farm just South of where I live. I picked up 8 massive cauliflower for $3.00 Canadian total and 8 huge, healthy brocilli for $3.00 also. The organic farmer sold me three soccer ball sized Kohlrabis and an Italian style brocilli for $5.00.

I don't know how they can grow and transport for for that price ? The GD freezer bags from Costco cost more ! I'm in the process of cutting up, cleaning, blanching and freezer bagging the cauliflower and brocilli because I believe we're gonna get mugged this Winter when fuel prices are passed on to our imported produce.

As far as Free trade disputes IMUO (In My Uniformed Opinion) both sides need to shut up to the press and get back to the table and hash it out. This ain't life's breath we're talking about, we'll get past these disputes and yes, others will arise in the future.

Get some people in there that can communicate and think in the language Americans can understand, then deal with them. They want this to work too. Nobody makes money if tariffs are in place.

Frankly the farmers get screwed far worse by the quotas GIVEN to Quebec by federal marketing boards, much worse than Free Trade screws them.

Swear to heaven the next time they threaten to seperate, freakin' adieu baby !!!!!!!!!!

Sixlitre

Its just another example of a trend that I have noticed the government taking the past many years. It seems (to me) that the government, whether it be federal or provincial, has become increasingly focused on urban development in the areas of infrastructure, big business, and pandering to the upper class and repeatedly puts the issues of the rural area to the side. Sad, as Canada is still a predominantly rural country.

The New Brunswick government has no support or sympathy for their dairy farmers. There are men that work in the capital in an office making $90,000 per year, but I guarantee you that he is not nearly in the same league as a dairy farmer as far as "work" is concerned. These guys work 7 days a week, no vacation pay, no pension plan, for 12-14 hours a day. These people are the most honest hard-working Canadians you will ever find. But they are not paid nearly what they are worth. The prices that the farmers in NB are getting paid are rediculously low. This summer they hit a low of $0.60 per litre. If their ratio of butterfat/protein is off they can be penalized in the thousands of dollars. Many farmers have to throw milk out so as not to be penalized. Sad.

The beef business is even worse. I will say one thing: Quebec takes care of their farmers (with the help of the feds, yes). When I was a kid in Quebec we had 50-60 head of Hereford. The Quebec governments program considered how much it would cost the farmer to raise a cow from birth to market. If they determined that it would be $1 per pound, but the market was only paying $0.78 per pound, then at least the farmer got $1.00 per pound. Given the current situation with Canadian beef, farmers in New Brunswick would kill for that sort of deal. No dice. Their plight is so far off our governments radar its not funny.

So the whole point of this is that our farmers are always at the end of the line. Which is sad, considering we built our country on their backs. When the price of gas goes up, they pay the price. When feed goes up because of foolish posturing between two governments they pay the price. Sure my company can pass that price on and still make a profit, but a farming business's budget is razor thin.

I grew up a farmer, now working as a feed salesmen to farmers. I hate having to tell them that their feed prices might skyrocket. Sometimes I go to their homes to collect cheques and they tell me they cant pay becasue the milk money was low this month....John Deere payment needs made, cows went lame etc...Its just tough when you have lunch and tea with many people every other week, and have to be the bringer of bad news.

Six, your right. It would be nice if the media would lay off the whole deal a bit to take the pressure off our governments a bit so they could get some work done.

-Matt

I'm sorry in advance for hijacking the thread. Are we required to get passports to enter Canada or is this just more BS. Also I was born and raised in Alaska and liked ALL Canucks I have come in cotact with up there, I consider them Alaska cousins. I'm sorry about your concerns/problems. It seems when something major goes wrong(gas prices) someone somewhere eats it

Its just another example of a trend that I have noticed the government taking the past many years. It seems (to me) that the government, whether it be federal or provincial, has become increasingly focused on urban development in the areas of infrastructure, big business, and pandering to the upper class and repeatedly puts the issues of the rural area to the side. Sad, as Canada is still a predominantly rural country.

The New Brunswick government has no support or sympathy for their dairy farmers. There are men that work in the capital in an office making $90,000 per year, but I guarantee you that he is not nearly in the same league as a dairy farmer as far as "work" is concerned. These guys work 7 days a week, no vacation pay, no pension plan, for 12-14 hours a day. These people are the most honest hard-working Canadians you will ever find. But they are not paid nearly what they are worth. The prices that the farmers in NB are getting paid are rediculously low. This summer they hit a low of $0.60 per litre. If their ratio of butterfat/protein is off they can be penalized in the thousands of dollars. Many farmers have to throw milk out so as not to be penalized. Sad.

The beef business is even worse. I will say one thing: Quebec takes care of their farmers (with the help of the feds, yes). When I was a kid in Quebec we had 50-60 head of Hereford. The Quebec governments program considered how much it would cost the farmer to raise a cow from birth to market. If they determined that it would be $1 per pound, but the market was only paying $0.78 per pound, then at least the farmer got $1.00 per pound. Given the current situation with Canadian beef, farmers in New Brunswick would kill for that sort of deal. No dice. Their plight is so far off our governments radar its not funny.

So the whole point of this is that our farmers are always at the end of the line. Which is sad, considering we built our country on their backs. When the price of gas goes up, they pay the price. When feed goes up because of foolish posturing between two governments they pay the price. Sure my company can pass that price on and still make a profit, but a farming business's budget is razor thin.

I grew up a farmer, now working as a feed salesmen to farmers. I hate having to tell them that their feed prices might skyrocket. Sometimes I go to their homes to collect cheques and they tell me they cant pay becasue the milk money was low this month....John Deere payment needs made, cows went lame etc...Its just tough when you have lunch and tea with many people every other week, and have to be the bringer of bad news.

Six, your right. It would be nice if the media would lay off the whole deal a bit to take the pressure off our governments a bit so they could get some work done.

-Matt

It does suck Matt

Sounds like, in your job, you see the results of government neglect on farmers firsthand. One major problem Canadian farmers face is they don't have the free market to grow and sell all they want, like American farmers do.

We still strictly control marketing boards and New Brunswick and Ontario, being on either side of Quebec, suffer greatly as the Feds hand the cream to Quebec at the espense of farmers on provinces on either side of Quebec.

You mentioned a big truth they've forgotten. We really are 95% rural still, in this country. Farming is one area they appear to have just abandoned as a government.

You also mentioned urban sprawl, well that too hurts the farmer. Idiots being idiots the world over, Ontario is building cities on it's best prime farmland.

The whole South Western corner of Ontario is being built on. The best farmland we possess. Same story for the fruit producing countys along the lake such as lower Hastings, Prince Edward county, etc, etc.

Even up here in Eastern Ontario, we're doing the same thing outside Ottawa. The fertile Ottawa valley is becoming subdivisions built cheek to jowl, when there's tons of land in Canada.

Gotta love that Federal leadership !!!!!!!!

Beckyandrich

Yes, it's true America will soon require Canadians to carry a passport just for a day trip (or any trip) into America and Canada I believe will follow suite.

It's fairly obvious why. We as a country have allowed so many false refugees into Canada (many of whom never even appear for their citizenship hearings), that the Americans now consider us an unsecure screen door.

You've only to follow the foiled terrorist attack that was slated for LAX. Most of the swine came through Canada to get in the back door.

They spoke of lost freedoms after 911, here's one more. Canadian politicians refused to integrate our security policies with United States and this is some of what's to come.

Sixlitre

include me in that ever growing list.

Like WTF? I read two posts in this forum and was wondering who else has jimsl78 on ignore? What an asshole!


Anyway, Matt I don't envy your job at all! Knowing what's going on and what can be done at the Federal level to remedy the situation but nobdy's doing anything about it. I think the press needs to bring out the laundry and make everybody aware of what's going on. I think that would put some pressure on Capitol Hill to do something instead of sitting on the fence.


Sean:wacko

RadioFlyer]Like WTF? I read two posts in this forum and was wondering who else has jimsl78 on ignore? What an asshole!

Sean

Welome to FSB Sean :twotu: and thankyou so much for the kind words.
After seeing how you posted in french, your response doesn't surprise me.
Sorry, but if you were hoping to provoke me, It's not happenning.
I hope you have a very nice day.
Best Regards,
Jim (the asshole)