OTTAWA (Staff) – The leader of the federal New Democratic Party last week vowed to try to make the party a player in the debate over the future of the Canadian Wheat Board.
Alexa McDonough told Manitoba New Democrats the board is under attack from “the extreme right,” with the Liberal government collaborating by “keeping their heads down while the board is eroded.”
She said the NDP wants to see the wheat board made stronger.
“The alternative would be to let a few greedy giants pick the bones of the Canadian grain industry, risking an economic dust bowl for the sake of a quick buck,” she told the Manitoba party at its annual convention in Winnipeg.
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In a later interview, federal NDP agriculture spokesperson Len Taylor said with just nine members of Parliament and no official party status in the House of Commons, it is not easy to have a major impact on the public debate.
Gathering support
“But we will keep saying these things, hoping to gain support and to see that showing up in the ballot box next time,” he said. “We will be talking about the Canadian Wheat Board every chance we get and I’m delighted to hear that my leader has added the wheat board issue to her speeches.”
He said the NDP #supports a stronger board covering more grains.
It also supports giving the wheat board’s advisory committee more of a say.
“The advisory committee has to be strengthened because it is elected by producers,” said Taylor. “It has to be given more power and credibility.”
He said farmers should know the federal government, rather than defending the board, is setting the ground for its weakening.
“The minister and the federal government say they support the board, but he is still willing to listen to the debate, to the views of those who would destroy the board. He should just act.”
