Canadian Wheat Board minister Ralph Goodale last week urged senators to quickly deal with his legislation to reform the board and then quickly found out the bill will not have a smooth ride through the Senate.
Goodale appeared before the Senate agriculture committee Feb. 26 to open his defence of the bill and immediately raised some senatorial hackles by saying he would like the legislation passed by the end of April to allow planning for late autumn elections.
“Delay serves those who would like to see the CWB crumble,” said the minister. The constant debate “is a debilitating thing that gnaws at the board on a daily basis.”
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
But the senators, who plan two weeks of public hearings on the prairies in late March, bristled at Goodale’s suggestion they should work to his political deadline.
“I don’t think there is a feeling among senators that we have to work to an April deadline,” committee chair and Saskatchewan Conservative Len Gustafson said after the meeting. “I know I don’t.”
Liberal Senator Herb Sparrow challenged Goodale’s handling of the issue and his inability to win wider support. He noted many farmers on the prairies still oppose the legislation.
“There is no one who agrees with the bill, who does not want to see changes in it,” said Sparrow. “If I could have a sense that there is a large body of support out there for the bill, then I would be much happier.”
As it is, there is division and farmers want to have more say.
“There are too many out there who are showing a lot of concern about the bill and that’s why I’m concerned about time constraints,” he said.
As it is, the Senate committee likely will not start to consider and debate possible amendments until late April.
Late Monday, the committee was considering a tentative schedule which would see hearings in Ottawa during the weeks of March 9 and 16, with public hearings in Winnipeg, Brandon, Regina, Saskatoon and Red Deer the weeks of March 23 and 30.
Once back in Ottawa after a two-week April parliamentary break, the committee would begin sittings the week of April 20 to sift through the evidence and consider amendments.
It would mean that any amendments from the Senate likely would not get back to the House of Commons before May, as the agenda gets crowded heading toward the late June summer recess.
Meanwhile, Goodale also was put on notice that all the Senate criticisms will not take the side of those who argue the legislation does not give farmers enough choice.
Senator Eugene Whelan took the side of the CWB advisory committee which has raised concerns that the bill provides a road map for those who want to diminish board powers.
“There seems to be a real scare in people’s minds that we are going to destroy something admired around the world,” said Whelan. “There is concern that this is a step to removing something.”
Goodale said the legislation does not reduce the board’s jurisdiction, and it will only happen in future if farmers vote to do so.
