NEWS RELEASE

May 30, 1996  For Immediate Release

GOODALE DESTROYING THE WHEAT BOARD

"Rally around your country cousins," Breitkreuz tells Canadians.

Yorkton - Today, Garry Breitkreuz, Reform MP for Yorkton-Melville, threw his support behind Jake Hoeppner's demands for a judicial enquiry into the operations of the Canadian Wheat Board. Breitkreuz is also pushing hard for a full day debate on the Canadian Wheat Board in the House of Commons to be held before the House begins its summer recess. "During the 1993 election campaign, both Prime Minister Chretien and Agriculture Minister Ralph Goodale promised a producer plebiscite on barley marketing," reminded Breitkreuz. "Three years have passed and still no plebiscite. Add this to the growing list of broken promises."

"Is it true that the bungling of barley sales by the Wheat Board cost western Canadian barley growers an estimated $180 million, in the last year alone, as reported by former Wheat Board Commissioner, Ken Beswick?" asked Breitkreuz. "What problems have farmers experienced marketing their oats since it was taken away from the Wheat Board? Why are wheat and barley producers in eastern Canada not controlled by the Wheat Board? Why are trucks seized before the 'Sawatsky loophole' was closed, still being held by the government? Why are the Crow-rate buy-out cheques, first promised in February, delayed yet again? The actions of the Agriculture Minister are causing real concern in my constituency."

"The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) is being destroyed because Goodale refuses to reform it. He has employed one delaying tactic after another. Bureaucrats and politicians continue to protect their power base. They refuse to allow farmers a more direct say and control over the marketing of their grain. Over 80% of the farmers want the CWB but they also want it reformed now! We need an Agriculture Minister who will take his orders from farmers, not the Prime Minister. The West should not have their grain marketing decisions controlled by bureaucrats appointed in Ottawa."

"I appeal to all our city cousins to help put pressure on the Agriculture Minister who is not accountable to farmers. Farmers are powerless to change anything because they only have 3% of the votes in Canada. However, agriculture is a basic industry and provides many jobs in the Canadian economy. It's time for all Canadians to rally around their country cousins on this key issue," said Breitkreuz.

"It's no secret that the Liberals generally have had little or no regard for the opinions of people in rural areas in the past three years. I predict they will suddenly come up with what appears to be some great new program for farmers in order to buy their votes for the next election. But will gun control, the Crow buy-out and the destruction of health care facilities in rural areas be forgotten when they do this?" asked Breitkreuz. "I encourage all wheat and barley producers to call me with their concerns so that I be an effective voice for you in the House of Commons during the full day debate on the Canadian Wheat Board."

"I believe farmers should have control of their own grain marketing -- it's their land, their grain and no bureaucrat or politician has any right to interfere with their right to private property and freedom of contract. The bureaucrats in the Canadian Wheat Board and their puppet-masters in Ottawa are not accountable to the farmers, and this has to change," demanded Breitkreuz. "The government is stealing money from farmers pockets and the Liberals are using the full force of government to get their way instead of handling it democratically."

For more information please call

the office of Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.:

Yorkton: (306) 782-3309

Ottawa: (613) 992-4394