OTTAWA – Agriculture minister Ralph Goodale says the federal government will intervene in the debate over the future of the Canadian Wheat Board if Alberta funds the anti-board forces.
The federal government has called a winter plebiscite on whether prairie barley producers want to market their product through the board or through the grain trade.
“Quite frankly, if there is a bias in the process or a government treasury in the process, then we’ll have to consider the appropriate means … to even things up,” he told reporters Oct. 7.
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Goodale would not say whether he will order the wheat board to stay out of the debate, or whether the federal government plans to play any role.
It will set the rules for the vote, define the question and define the voters’ list.
It also will insist that the choice be between a wheat board monopoly over sales of malting barley and export feed barley or a total private trade jurisdiction.
Goodale acknowledged being concerned that the government of Alberta, an aggressive supporter of the anti-board monopoly side, will find a way to fund the anti-board campaign.
“It concerns me if one side has clearly an artificial advantage not based on the merits of the case but based upon dollars to spend,” said the minister. #”I’ll be watching that very carefully to ensure fairness.”
Saskatchewan agriculture minister Eric Upshall has also said his government may get involved, but in support of keeping the wheat board’s monopoly over barley.
Goodale was speaking to reporters after the first Commons Question Period since his Oct. 4 announcement of changes to the Canadian Wheat Board.
No questions
He had cancelled a commitment in British Columbia for Oct. 7 to be in Ottawa to handle expected questions.
The 45-minute question period passed without a question to him about the proposed wheat board changes.
The Bloc QuŽbecois opposition and Reform MPs concentrated on the Oct. 4 resignation of former defence minister David Collenette and the plans of his replacement, Doug Young.
A spokesperson for the Reform party said there were no questions for Goodale from the party’s western MPs, including some grain farmers, because agriculture critic Elwin Hermanson was not there.
“Elwin will be here tomorrow and the word is that he will lead the attack then,” said Larry Welsh from Reform leader Preston Manning’s office.
Goodale could not resist a comment on the fact that he sat in the Commons, a day after such a major announcement, without challenge.
“I’m the loneliest minister in the government,” he joked.
