The federal government is expected to end House of Commons debate this week on legislation to end the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly, sending it to the Senate for final approval.
Government House leader Peter Van Loan said he wants Nov. 23 to be devoted to final debate on Bill C-18.
However, the government is running short of time to get the bill approved and then through the Senate by mid-December, when Parliament takes a six week break.
The Commons began debating proposed opposition amendments to the bill Nov. 18. When the bill is called again, debate on amendments will resume with no inclination by the opposition to end the debate.
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Van Loan will have to move a motion to sharply curtail debate if he wants the bill to move out of the House this week.
NDP MP Pat Martin has proposed eight amendments to the bill that would gut it of its main intent: to end the CWB single desk July 31.
Green party leader Elizabeth May has proposed amendments that would restore farmer control of the board. The government bill would get rid of the 10 elected directors and have the board run by five government appointees during the transition period.
The Conservative majority can defeat all proposed changes.
