Saskatchewan agriculture minister Eric Upshall was on Parliament Hill last week, promoting the idea that the Canadian Wheat Board should retain its monopoly marketing powers. But as the minister who recently broke the Saskatchewan hog selling monopoly, Upshall found his own credibility being challenged by some aggressive opposition MPs. Critics of the wheat board monopoly […] Read more
Stories by Barry Wilson
U.S. sees positive side to wheat board: critic
Reform party trade critic Charlie Penson says the Canadian Wheat Board has been making political friends in the United States, for all the wrong reasons. The Peace River MP said in an interview last week he is convinced that despite Canadian denials, the wheat board made a secret commitment to Americans earlier this year that […] Read more
Canada’s negotiators against CWB
When former agriculture minister Eugene Whelan heard about the recent anti-marketing board confessions of a Canadian free trade negotiator, he had a quick response. “I knew that,” said the free trade critic, bureaucracy basher and now Liberal Senator. “I knew those bastards would have sold farmers down the river if they could.” And he warned […] Read more
Flood volunteers praised
The House of Commons and MPs paid tribute in October to the armed forces personnel and volunteers who traveled to Manitoba in the spring to help combat the Red River flood. Thirty military personnel and 40 volunteers were praised from the floor of the Commons and later at a reception. “Those of you who are […] Read more
Farmers reject coddle charge
Agriculture leaders lobbying on Parliament Hill last week were confronted by an echo from the past as an MP told them many Canadians consider farmers too coddled and subsidized. House of Commons finance committee member Nelson Riis told farm leaders Oct. 30 that many previous witnesses had suggested further spending cuts are possible to the […] Read more
OTTAWA NOTEBOOK
A proposal from North Dakota governor Edward Schafer that the U.S. and Canada combine in a wheat cartel to take on the world had heads shaking and tongues wagging in Canadian political circles last week. Schafer said recently the Canadian Wheat Board could be the vehicle. Rather than competing with American grain producers by shipping […] Read more
‘Inclusion’ clause isn’t worth arguing about
The Liberal decision to add an “inclusion” clause to its Canadian Wheat Board reform bill has become the focus of a major political uproar as the legislation speeds through Parliament. Both sides should calm down and move on to other, more important issues. The inclusion clause, even if it remains in the legislation, is virtually […] Read more
Seaway privatization bill zips along
Parliament is moving quickly this autumn to deal with legislation aimed at allowing commercialization of the St. Lawrence Seaway and private operation of ports. The House of Commons last week sent the legislation to a committee for public hearings and study. Reform and New Democratic Party MPs opposed it, although for different reasons. Reform critic […] Read more
Big farmer, big vote? Ag committee to decide
MPs on the Commons agriculture committee ended last week pondering a fundamental question about the rules for Canadian Wheat Board democracy. When elections are being held for the board of directors next year, should the votes of large farmers carry more weight than votes of small farmers? It happens in Australia. Reform agriculture critic Jay […] Read more
Farmers a tough sell for private insurers
The private insurance industry is anxious to gain a share of the basic crop insurance business, but it faces a challenge convincing farmers to support the move, says a prairie insurance executive. Rob Goeres, Regina-based president of Rain and Hail Insurance Service Inc., said Oct. 21 he understands some initial farm group reluctance about introducing […] Read more
