The Conservative government is again gearing up to tackle its favourite prairie farm policy whipping boy – the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly.
This time, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said the target may not just be the barley monopoly.
In the March 3 throne speech opening the new session of Parliament, the government said it will “ensure the freedom of choice for which western barley farmers overwhelmingly voted.”
The next day in the budget, the government seemed to go further.
While announcing that Ottawa will spend $51.7 million covering the Canadian Grain Commission deficit over the next two years, it added that it will reintroduce controversial legislation to change the CGC and will “work with Canadian grain farmers to promote marketing freedom to address evolving needs of the sector.”
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During a news conference, Ritz told reporters that the government has its sights on the entire monopoly.
“That’s the end game,” he said. “Of course, it’s going to take legislation to do that. We look forward to tabling that.”
As they have before, the combined opposition in the Commons likely would defeat any CWB legislation Ritz brings forward.
However, the minister also made reference to a court decision that supported the government’s right to issue direction to the board.
Some anti-monopoly activists in the past have urged the government to order the board to suspend the buy-back rule, effectively allowing farmers to sell their grain into the United States.
“We did face some court challenges, which we have subsequently won,” he said. “That gives us the ability to move forward, so please stay tuned.”
He did not reveal his planned strategy but made clear it involves both crops.
“Certainly western Canadian farmers have waited a long time to move forward on barley since their plebiscite some three years ago,” he said. “And they are now starting to ask for more than just barley. We will do a synopsis of that and as I say, stay tuned.”
Liberal agriculture critic Wayne Easter said that with all the problems in agriculture, the Conservatives should move on from their CWB obsession.
“Frankly, I’m disgusted by their ideological return to the wheat board issue that is best left alone.”
Western Barley Growers’ Association president Brian Otto said the group is happy that the government has moved the issue back onto the agenda. “We are willing to work with the government in any way we can to move forward with changes that will benefit the barley industry.”
In an interview, the Warner, Alta., farmer said there have been past proposals to order the board to issue no-cost export permits or start a no-cost buyback program.
“But at this point, we’re not pressing the minister on that,” he said. “We are positioning ourselves to support the government’s intention to introduce legislation although we understand the problem it has in a minority Parliament.”
