The Conservative government has decided Nov. 28 is the day the House of Commons will approve historic legislation to end the 68-year-old Canadian Wheat Board wheat and barley single desk.
On Monday, the Conservative Commons majority will approve Bill C-18 and send it off to the Senate for final approval by mid-December.
Manitoba Conservative senator Don Plett, leading the Conservative charge in the Senate, said in an interview that the bill be approved by the time Parliament rises for its six-week Christmas break.
“It will be done,” he said.
On Nov. 23, the day the CWB elected directors held their last meeting in Winnipeg before being disbanded when the legislation takes effect, the Conservatives used closure to end debate in the Commons on opposition proposals to change the bill.
On Nov. 24, government House leader Peter Van Loan announced the debate will end and the legislation passed Nov. 28.
In the Senate last week, Liberals blocked an attempt by the government to authorize committee hearings on the legislation before it gets to the Senate.
Plett said Liberal antics mean that fewer farmers will have a chance to appear at committee.
“The Liberals decided to limit debate and the ability of farmers to appear and to present their views,” he said.
“Now, we will deal with the bill and there will be limited time for witnesses because we will get it out by the end of the year. That is the government timeline if farmers are to know what the rules are in winter when they start to make their marketing decisions.”
Opposition MPs and senators are using their limited time to denounce Conservative dictatorial ways and to insist farmers should have a say.
When the Conservatives forced through Commons votes on C-18 Nov. 23 with limited debate, some farmers and their supporters did have their say.
From public galleries where spectators are expected to remain quiet, farmers and their supporters jeered as the vote to approve the bill was announced.
Security guards cleared the public gallery as New Democrats and some Liberals applauded the unparliamentary display of public displeasure.
