Prairie farmers who crossed the border earlier this year without legal export permits are now appearing in court on charges.
Thirty-one Saskatchewan farmers are scheduled to appear in Estevan Provincial Court this week, facing a total of 110 charges laid in connection with export of grain to the United States.
The charges include failing to have a Canadian Wheat Board permit to export grain, unlawfully removing goods (their trucks) from Canada Customs and failing to turn over property (their trucks) seized by Canada Customs at North Portal, Sask. Some are also charged with failing to report their intention to export wheat or barley.
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The farmers were charged last spring after returning to Canada from the U.S. in a convoy organized by Canadian Farmers for Justice.
In the Alberta case, three weeks have been scheduled for an Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench trial. Canadian Farmers for Justice filed a constitutional application declaring they broke no law by selling grain into the United States without an export permit.
The trial was scheduled to start Nov. 21 in Lethbridge.
Twelve people were charged at the Alberta-U.S. border on April 23 for violating the Customs Act when they sold wheat in the U.S. without an export permit.
Dan Creighton, a legal adviser from Saskatoon, said the farmers believe there is no law requiring a farmer to provide a permit to export wheat or barley to Customs.
