The Alberta government should stop dithering and implement its own board to bypass the Canadian Wheat Board, says a University of Calgary professor.
“The sooner the better,” said Barry Cooper.
If the province doesn’t act soon, a re-elected federal Liberal government will close the loophole that now permits Alberta to form its own wheat board and export farmers’ grain, he said.
Under the existing Canadian Wheat Board act, the provinces aren’t bound to export through the wheat board, said Cooper.
“The legislation explicitly does not bind the crown.”
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The wheat board may be doing a splendid job, but there is no way of finding out until there is an economic alternative, he said.
Reform MP Leon Benoit said Alberta should have the same rights to bypass the board as the Ontario Wheat Board.
“If Alberta sets up a board like the Ontario board, how could the wheat board not authorize permits,” said Benoit.
But during a Commons agriculture committee meeting, justice department lawyer David Byer said the provincial government is bound by the current act. Like everyone else, the Ontario board needs an export permit from the wheat board for any sales across the border.
Alberta’s agriculture minister Ed Stelmach said he’s not going to be rushed into establishing the province’s own wheat board.
May 2 was the final day material was to be filed by intervenors in the provincial government’s court reference on the issue.
Last year, the provincial government asked the Alberta Court of Appeal to rule whether it was legal for the province to bypass the board and export grain on behalf of farmers. That decision should be available by fall. Until that decision is available, the government will wait, he said.
Things could also look different on the federal government front soon, as well.
“There may be a new agriculture minister who is more conciliatory in nature and listens to western Canadian issues,” he said.
The province is also waiting to see if there will be an appeal by farmers in the Charter of Rights case.
The best solution would be political, not legal, he said.
