NEWS
RELEASE
June 11, 2001
For Immediate Release
"Diversification
is made extremely difficult by government legislation," said Breitkreuz.
OTTAWA – Thursday in the House of
Commons, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville and Deputy Agriculture
Critic, asked Ralph Goodale, Minister Responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board,
why he refuses to allow organic farmers to have an exemption from marketing
their grain through the Canadian Wheat Board.
This came on the heels of an appearance by three Saskatchewan Organic
farmers – John Husband of Wawota, Eric Leicht of Watson and Arnold Schmidt of
Fox Valley. “These enterprising
farmers have run into roadblocks set by the Canadian Wheat Board in trying to
market they own grain,” stated Breitkreuz.
The following is the exchange between Breitkreuz and
Goodale:
Mr. Garry Breitkreuz
(Yorkton—Melville, Canadian Alliance):
Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board is on
record as telling farmers to grow something other than traditional wheat for
export, yet his legislation is preventing producers from doing just that. The
minister's stubbornness is costing farmers money in their time of crisis. During
testimony in committee today organic farmers made it clear that the CWB's Board
of Directors does not represent them, yet they must submit to its authority.
Why does the minister refuse to allow these farmers who have already
diversified into niche markets not serviced by the board the right to market and
process their own grain?
Hon. Ralph Goodale (Minister of
Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, in terms of other grains, specialty crops, pulse crops and so
forth, of course the Canadian Wheat Board is not involved in that field of
marketing activity whatsoever. Its jurisdiction extends only to wheat and barley
in certain particular circumstances. With
respect to organic farmers, a number have expressed the views that have been
represented in the House today. Others have expressed other opinions. Obviously
both sides need to be weighed very carefully and the ultimate decision making
should rest with the duly elected producer board of directors.
Mr. Garry Breitkreuz
(Yorkton—Melville, Canadian Alliance):
Mr. Speaker, that is classic buck passing. The minister and his board seem to
think that organic producers like John Husband are threatening other wheat and
barley producers when they ask to opt out of the board's monopoly. This makes no
sense when you consider that the board does not even market organic grains.
Can the minister explain why giving organic farmers an exemption from the
board system threatens the income of other wheat and barley farmers in western
Canada? He has never given us an explanation. Organic farmers deserve one right
now.
Hon. Ralph Goodale (Minister of
Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, indeed the detailed explanation has been offered, not by the
government, not by bureaucrats, but indeed by the duly elected farmers who serve
on the board of directors of the Canadian Wheat Board.
The party opposite has argued in the past for democracy in the
administration of the Canadian Wheat Board. The legislation in the last
parliament provided that democracy. Now the opposition wants to override that
democracy by direct edicts by the Government of Canada.
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