An Alberta MLA has introduced an amendment to his private member’s bill that has revived the Alberta government’s attempts to create a dual market for wheat and barley sales.
The first bill was dependent on the federal and provincial governments coming to some kind of agreement on the introduction of a 10-year test market for wheat and barley in Alberta, bypassing the Canadian Wheat Board. The amendments negate the need for an agreement with the federal government.
Two years ago, Calgary MLA Mark Hlady introduced Bill 207, which asked for the establishment of a 10-year test market for wheat and barley. The new amendments, now labelled as Bill 206, were introduced March 1.
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“The bill will provide all free-enterprising and hard-working Alberta farmers the opportunity to sell their wheat and barley outside the control of the Canadian Wheat Board,” said Hlady when he introduced the bill into the legislature.
“It will provide a ray of economic hope and a level playing field with farmers in Ontario, who already have a choice,” he said.
The bill still must pass second reading, go to committee and come back for third and final reading. Private members’ bills often die before they’re proclaimed law, but Alberta premier Ralph Klein said he supports Hlady’s latest bill, which gives the bill a boost.
Many critics still feel it’s political grandstanding. The wheat board falls under the mandate of the federal government and can’t be bypassed by a provincial government.
Board spokesperson Louise Waldman said the board sees the bill as political posturing by the provincial government.
“The Alberta government has made it clear they want an open market system … farmers, however, favour something else,” said Waldman, pointing to the majority of pro-board farmer representatives around the wheat board’s board table.
“The wheat board’s position still is it’s farmers, not politicians, that should determine the fate of their marketing system.”
Last week Saskatchewan’s new agriculture minister waded into the debate. Mark Wartman said the Saskatchewan government shouldn’t sit back while the Alberta government tries to weaken the board.
“When another province takes it upon themselves to try to undermine producers, we think it’s important to stand behind our producers,” Wartman said.
It’s not up to government, but producers to choose how their grain marketing system should operate, he said.
“Until they choose otherwise, we’ll stand with them.”
