Veteran Liberal MP and agriculture critic Wayne Easter has complained for months that Canadian farm leaders are too timid in dealing with the Conservative government.
Now, he says he is doing something about it.
For weeks, Easter has not grilled agriculture minister Gerry Ritz in Parliament about government agriculture policy.
He says it is deliberate. Call it a question strike.
“You may have noticed I haven’t been asking questions,” he said.
“That’s a decision. Why bother? I’m not asking questions in defence of the industry in the face of a do-nothing government if agriculture leaders aren’t prepared to speak up and take the government on.”
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Easter said it has been particularly frustrating that when he challenges Ritz in Parliament, the minister hauls out quotes from farm leaders lavishing praise on government actions.
“Farm leaders have been afraid to take on this government so why should I stick my neck out?” he said.
“I have told farm leaders that. I will work to defend the industry in other ways but I am not prepared to fight their fight for better policy and better treatment by the government if they are not prepared to support me.”
