Ag critic looks for new committee position

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Published: May 19, 2011

Former farm leader Wayne Easter has carried the party banner on the House of Commons agriculture committee since he was elected a Prince Edward Island Liberal MP in 1993.

If he gets his way, he will not be part of the committee in next Parliament, nor will he be agriculture critic.

“I certainly wouldn’t mind looking to another committee and another critic position like international trade,” the former National Farmers Union president said.

“I’ll be blunt. I’ve fought all my life for supply management and the Canadian Wheat Board, for strong national programs for farmers and it would be disgusting to sit on the committee and regardless of what farmers say, watch the wheat board be undermined.”

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He predicted that the Conservative majority on the agriculture committee will follow an “ideological agenda and don’t let the facts get in the way of what we want to do,” Easter said.

“I can fight that fight at committee and I don’t mind doing that, but I really think I can be more productive on another committee like trade, where there is a chance to bring positive change by working with other parties. I don’t see that at agriculture.”

Easter said even if he gets his wish to change critic jobs, he will be there to fight Conservative agricultural legislation when it comes to the floor of the Commons.

With just 34 seats in the new House of Commons, the Liberal caucus will be stretched to find members for all committees and House work.

On the other hand, their new status as Parliament’s third party will make the task a bit easier.

Deputy Liberal leader Ralph Goodale said the Conservative sweep of much of rural Canada will put the government on the spot to deliver better policies.

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