A private member’s bill to create a test market for wheat and barley in Alberta has been put on the shelf until fall, or possibly indefinitely.
Calgary MLA Mark Hlady’s bill amending his previous test marketing bill introduced two years ago will be put on hold until the fall sitting of the legislature.
“It’s first up in the fall so that’s a good thing,” said Hlady, who hoped the bill introduced March 1, would have passed first reading during the Monday sessions when private member’s bills are debated.
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Despite its slow movement, Hlady said it would only take three weeks in the fall to move the bill into the next stages of second reading, committee review, third reading and royal assent to become law.
“What we need to see (is) three Mondays and pass it out of each stage on each Monday and away we go,” said Hlady.
He is optimistic of success for his bill designed to create a 10-year test market to allow Alberta farmers to sell their wheat and barley outside the Canadian Wheat Board.
The first bill required the agreement of the federal government to establish the test market. The amendment eliminates the need for agreement with the federal government to establish the test market and would allow farmers to sell outside the board without an export licence.
Wheat board chair Ken Ritter said the way the bill “pops in and out” of the legislature makes it clear it is strictly a political initiative used to stir up anti-wheat board sentiment.
“It’s used as a political lever rather than something serious,” said Ritter during a break from seeding on his farm near Kindersley, Sask.
Other political watchers have also said while the Alberta government pays lip service to the bill, it knows it has no jurisdiction to make changes to the board.
Instead, the bill’s reincarnation every few years is designed to force the federal government’s hand to make changes on its own.
During a meeting last week with Alberta premier Ralph Klein, Ritter said both sides agreed the bill was political.
He said there was also consensus that the wheat board has changed its programs to try and meet the needs of more farmers.
In Alberta, more than 1,300 farmers have signed up for different pricing option programs and basis contract programs offered by the board, up dramatically from the handful of farmers who used the pricing contracts last year.
“It’s a sign we’re marching along the path of providing farmers with choice and options, and maintaining the strength of the single desk, and not throwing away the past, but adding features to the single desk that allows everybody to fit into the organization,” said Ritter.
Doug McBain, president of the Western Barley Growers Association, said despite the delays the bill is still proceeding.
“It’s still on target to get done,” said McBain, who added key Alberta government players are on side including the premier and the agriculture minister.
The barley group came to the legislature in April to show support for the bill.
“If this is passed then it will force the licensing issue up front,” said McBain.
