The Conservative government’s attempts to get Canada Grain Act amendments to a Commons committee for public hearings and possible changes were stymied again last week.
Opposition MPs who have proposed that Bill C-13 be dropped from the parliamentary agenda for six months so the government can rewrite it kept up their attacks.
Government MPs argue MPs should approve it in principle so it can go to the agriculture committee, where farmers can voice their opinions and revisions can be debated if necessary.
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On Oct. 8, for the first time since April 2 when the NDP “hoist” motion was proposed to delay the bill, the government called the bill for debate, but it moved no closer to a vote.
Like a controversial bill that died in the last Parliament, C-13 proposes to revamp Canadian Grain Commission rules to end inward inspection of grain moving between facilities owned by the same company, to drop current grain dealer security bonding requirements and make other changes that Conservatives say would modernize the system and reduce unnecessary costs.
Critics charge that it would undermine the credibility of the inspection system and without a dealer security bond, would leave farmers vulnerable to losing money if a dealer goes out of business before paying for crop delivered.
They describe the bill as part of a “deregulation” agenda that shifts the balance from producers to companies.
Because as many as 200 CGC employees would lose their jobs because of the proposed reduction in Commission inspections, the Public Service Alliance of Canada has opposed the bill.
The National Farmers Union also opposes it while grain sector groups including Grain Growers of Canada and Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association say they want it to go to committee for debate and public hearings.
The Conservatives insist committee hearings could be used to debate alternatives to the bonding system.
Last week was a rehash of the arguments.
Saskatchewan Conservative Randy Hoback accused opposition parties with no rural prairie seats of holding up legislation aimed at benefiting farmers.
“I am upset that the opposition has moved to hoist this amendment,” he said. “It is hijacking a bill that is essential to the grain farmers in Western Canada.”
Newfoundland Liberal Scott Simms retorted that the issue isn’t the Grain Act amendments but the way the government has handled the critics.
The current bill is a replica of an earlier unapproved bill.
“Remember that legislation was debated more than a year ago and the debate clearly indicated the government should reconsider its direction on undermining the CGC,” he said.
“It had a year to do so and it has failed to take that opportunity. This particular vote is not a vote against reform of the CGC but it is indeed a vote against the arrogance of the government.”
In fact, despite years of Conservative political domination of rural prairie seats, British Columbia New Democrat Peter Julian even claimed to have spotted a softening in farmer support.
“It is fair to say that the reason more and more New Democrats are being elected in Western Canada is because western Canadian farmers are seeing that the Conservative agenda has been very ideological and mean spirited,” he said to some hoots from Conservative MPs.
