This week, this space is devoted to the praise of some Reform MPs and their idea of democracy. More precisely, it will relate the tale of how some MPs, in their attempt to represent their constituents, even give their critics an airing. At the centre of the tale are Saskatchewan Reform MPs who have been […] Read more
Stories by Barry Wilson
Ontario has its own wheat board debate
HYDE PARK, Ont. – As an Ontario feed grain buyer, Ian Carter seems to appreciate the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board more than some farmers who must market through the board. “Historically, I think the board has done a good job of managing the market,” Carter said in the office of London Agricultural Commodities Inc. […] Read more
U.S. promises to fight NAFTA ruling
OTTAWA – Canadian politicians last week urged calm, silence and patience in the face of suggestions from Washington that whatever the outcome of a trade panel in November, the U.S. plans to blast its way into Canada’s protected dairy, poultry and egg markets. At a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S. trade spokesperson Ira Shapiro […] Read more
Canada digging in for U.S. assault on CWB
OTTAWA – Canada is assessing its defences and looking for international allies as it prepares for an expected American attempt in 1999 to use world trade talks to undercut the Canadian Wheat Board. Federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale last week said he expects the United States to use the next round of trade negotiations, which […] Read more
Credit union lobby wants rule changes to compete with banks
OTTAWA – Canada’s national credit union lobby last week urged MPs to reject suggestions that Ottawa give up its power to regulate regional credit union centrals. Bill Knight, president of Credit Union Central of Canada, told the Commons finance committee Sept. 24 that provincial regulation of regional centrals would deprive the credit union movement of […] Read more
Farmer Rail Car Coalition deems Ottawa trip a success
OTTAWA – Prairie farm groups hoping to buy the government’s fleet of 13,000 grain hopper cars said they found some powerful political support last week on Parliament Hill. But transport minister David Anderson said political support is not the issue as the government tries to decide what to do with its fleet. Anderson said the […] Read more
U.S. warns Canada off heavy foray into American markets
OTTAWA – The United States government issued an election-year threat against Canadian grain exporters last week, warning it will try to limit imports which threaten damage to American farmers. “The administration reiterates its longstanding position that it will not accept market disruption from imports of Canadian wheat,” trade ambassador Charlene Barshefsky and agriculture secretary Dan […] Read more
Canada challenges EU beef ban
OTTAWA – The federal government late last week announced it will try to use world trade rules to win access to European markets for Canadian beef. It is taking the European Union to a World Trade Organization trade disputes panel to challenge the seven-year-old ban on imports of beef from countries which allow use of […] Read more
Leaked poll shows theoretical support for change to CWB
OTTAWA – The majority of prairie farmers support in theory a proposal to remove feed barley exports from Canadian Wheat Board jurisdiction, but support declines when they are queried about the implications of the move, a government-commissioned opinion poll indicates. Three pages of poll results written in August by the Angus Reid Group for Agriculture […] Read more
Dragging feet on CWB will kill it, says Reform
OTTAWA – If the government refuses to signal this autumn that it will open the Canadian Wheat Board to export competition, it will destroy the board rather than save it, a Reform MP predicted last week. Elwin Hermanson said a cautious response by agriculture minister Ralph Goodale to recommendations from a government-appointed panel that feed […] Read more
