If the Canadian Wheat Board is looking for allies in its efforts to have the federal government lift its gag order, maybe it should start in the prime minister’s office.
That’s because Stephen Harper has a track record of opposing government gag orders.
Eight years ago, Harper was president of the National Citizens’ Coalition, a right-wing lobby group that often criticizes government regulation.
In an October 1998 press release, Harper blasted the Liberal government of the day for putting restrictions on advertising and spending by third party groups during the inaugural CWB director elections.
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“Such gag laws are unconstitutional and unenforceable,” Harper said at the time.
“We (the NCC) intend to freely express our political opinions using our own resources and we encourage other organizations and individual to do the same.”
Now, CWB vice-president Deanna Allen said that to be consistent with his view that gag orders are unconstitutional, Harper should loosen the gag on the board.
In a story carried in the Oct. 15, 1998 issue of The Western Producer, Harper said the federal government of the day was attempting to impose a “chill effect” on prairie farmers by restricting free speech and advertising.
He also called the CWB elections a sham and accused former CWB minister Ralph Goodale of getting his definition of democracy from dictators like Fidel Castro of Cuba and Mohamed Suharto of Indonesia.
On Oct. 5, 2006, the Harper government issued a directive that the CWB not spend money on advocating the retention of its monopoly powers
The order was issued under Section 18 of the CWB Act, which states the cabinet may direct the CWB “with respect to the manner in which any of its operations, powers and duties under this act shall be conducted, exercised or performed.”
