Check It Out: Why is western Canada being used as the sacrificial lamb?

By Joan Janzen

A farmer said, “If partially sighted people want the right to drive combines, I’m not going to stand in their way.”

Not only do farmers need 20/20 vision, but they also need a firm grasp on vision for their future. The Saskatchewan Institute recently addressed one of the major challenges facing farmers.

In its ‘Saskatchewan Minute’, it reported: “China has imposed tariffs of up to 75.8% on Canadian canola seed. This is on top of the 100% tariffs already in place on canola oil and meal.”

This is significant because China imports massive amounts of canola oil and meal. “The worst part is the crisis wasn’t caused by Saskatchewan farmers, or by China; it was caused by Ottawa,” the Saskatchewan Minute report explained.

The tariffs are seen as a response to Canada’s 100% tariffs imposed on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), which triggered retaliation from China. 

So what does that look like from a farmer’s perspective? Saskatchewan’s own Quick Dick McDick (aka Dickson Delorme), well known as a comedian, YouTuber, and most importantly, as a farmer, willingly shared his thoughts on the subject.

The Saskatchewan Institute summed up the situation, saying, “Ottawa has decided protecting Ontario and Quebec’s struggling EV industry is worth more than defending the canola industry.”

Quick Dick discussed why western Canadian grain growers are where they are. He told his listeners that Ottawa is protecting an industry that imports most of the components for EVs from China and then uses $80/hr union employee jobs to assemble those vehicles in Canada, and tries to force them on Canadians.

“The federal government has set a goal that by 2035, one hundred percent of vehicles sold must be EV, and any manufacturer that is in violation of this will be fined,” the YouTuber added. Nevertheless, the Financial Post reported EV sales in Canada dropped sharply in March of this year.

The Saskatchewan farmer asked another question, “Why is western Canada being used as the sacrificial lamb?” He followed with an explanation, “It’s because we have all the commodities the government needs to use as bargaining tools. And there’s no chance the government will lose any voter support here, where canola is grown, because they don’t have voter support here in the first place. So what better commodity to use in a trade dispute? The government’s primary job once elected is to get re-elected.”

On the other hand, the YouTuber pointed out Bill C-202 was passed, protecting supply-managed farms which include dairy, poultry and eggs. “Do you want to guess where most of those farms are located in this country and how they vote?” Quick Dick asked.

Meanwhile, his listeners are cheering him on, mostly because he’s the first media personality who has provided an honest depiction of the circumstances.

Saskatchewan produces nearly half of Canada’s canola; more than 20,000 farmers grow it. It’s worth billions every year and is critical to the livelihoods of families. “It’s one of our largest markets,” Quick Dick said, “We exported $5 billion worth of canola last year to China. The canola industry is responsible for over 200,000 jobs, which is way more than the steel, aluminum and auto industries put together.”

Now it’s harvest time on the prairies, and some farmers have secured contracts. “But some people can’t store all their canola until prices get better. Some people need cash flow to pay for equipment and land,” Quick Dick reasoned. “This is when you see what you’ve got for a yield and start marketing your product.”

To put this into perspective, he reported the numbers. On his farm, he grows 2300 acres of canola, which usually yields between 40 and 45 bushels per acre. “We lost $100,000 with the announcement of this tariff,” he concluded. “It’s long past time for the federal government to stop trying to support a non-existent EV industry using a western Canadian canola crop.”

One of Quick Dick’s listeners said, “I’m from Ontario, but I feel we need to work with all the provinces and do what’s best for each one, working with the strengths of each province to make Canada strong and free again.”

In a Canadian Press article, Chris Davison of the Canola Council of Canada said canola has been a profitable crop and his organization will try to ensure producers can find other markets, should problems with China persist. And the Premiers from Saskatchewan and Alberta are asking for EV tariffs to be scrapped to help normalize trade with China.

But I think Quick Dick spoke on behalf of all the grain growers in Saskatchewan and Alberta when he said, “Just let us do what we do and export it and get paid for it.” In other words, don’t stand in their way.