Another news story. Another ramp ceremony. Another pedestrian-lined highway and a darkened vehicle convoy making its way to a sombre destination. Another city flag at half-mast and another mournful wail from the bagpipes of Charles Meanwell.

I recently spent August 8-11th in Guelph Ontario working on Mike Nagy’s bi-election campaign. The Guelph campaign is one of three federal bi-elections currently underway in Canada.

"What", you may ask, "is the deputy leader of the provincial Green Party doing in Guelph working on a federal campaign"? Well, besides having the opportunity to spend time with great friends in one of Ontario’s more interesting cities, simply put, I’m helping kick down the door.

Anyone Else hear back from Helena Guergis, MP?!

Unfortunately we did, and the disturbing news was nothing short of cannon fodder around the lunch table today at Chescott Farm. Here are some of our favourite excerpts from the notice outlining why Bill C-517 was voted down:

Helena Guergis, MP: “Although my colleagues and I recognized that labeling genetically modified foods to support consumer choice is an important issue for consumers, we were hesitant to support some of the provisions outlined in the bill.”

Given the impact that any changes in mail services, particularly changes to rural post offices or rural mail delivery, would have upon us all both individually and to businesses I felt I had to share this.

This is from a letter published in the Orangeville (Ontario) Citizen newspaper written by the President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

I am one who does not feel we should be celebrating the 2008 Olympics in China because I do not like the way that the Chinese Government does business. This is an authoritarian regime that represses minorities, freedom of speech and individual expression in order to fulfill a warped manifesto that prioritizes material gain over life, liberty and environmental security.

The intersection of food, politics, agriculture, health and economy is a breading ground for controversy and worthy of a lifetime of newsletters. But to what end do I scribe? Debate for debates sake, much like talking about the weather to make conversation, seems pointless unless we’re asking the right questions, setting the right goals and have the willingness to bring about necessary change for the betterment of all.

I was recently enjoying a picnic with friends and family when I suddenly found myself in the middle of a very interesting conversation. On one side of me was the executive director of a well known provincial environmental organization. On the other side was a former Malancthon town councilor and farmer. The farmer, a long-time family friend, is about as traditional a rural citizen as you can find. Traditions of family, small economically sustainable agriculture, and property rights are top concerns for him.