Opposition MPs from Winnipeg have launched a joint attack on the Conservative government’s handling of the Canadian Wheat Board.
At a news conference held at the Manitoba legislature last week, Liberals Ray Simard and Anita Neville and New Democrats Pat Martin and Judy Wasylycia-Leis characterized the Tories’ CWB policy as reckless, ill advised and a threat to Winnipeg’s economy.
“It’s pure ideological madness,” Martin said.
“It bothers them (the Tories) that this (CWB) is a co-operative that is successful.”
The news conference was organized by the Save My CWB Campaign, made up of farmers and activists who want a “strong and vibrant” wheat board. They want to maintain the single desk at the CWB and oppose the federal Conservatives’ policy of offering marketing choice for wheat and barley growers in Western Canada.
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Joining the MPs were Manitoba agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk and CWB director Bill Nicholson.
The politicians, Nicholson and other CWB supporters sat in a row behind a microphone as reporters and 30 board supporters squeezed into a small room in the legislature.
Nicholson said it’s important to keep the board democratic and to maintain the single desk.
“It’s apparent the government is intent on eliminating that single desk, which should be a decision that farmers make, not government,” said Nicholson, a farmer from Shoal Lake, Man.
He also supported the federal Liberals’ private member’s bill to reduce the number of government-appointed directors on the CWB board from five to three.
Simard, who introduced the private member’s bill in late January, said it has substantial support in the House of Commons.
“Our Bloc colleagues, they’re on board. The NDP said they would fully support it,” he said.
“My private member’s bill is going to get a lot of support.”
The strongest rhetoric came from Martin, who described the grain trade as a crucial component of Winnipeg’s economy, comparing it to another industry in Western Canada.
“The grain industry is to Winnipeg, is what Fort MacMurray and the oilsands are to Alberta,” he said.
