Senators last week gave Canadian Wheat Board reform legislation quick approval-in-principle, and then vowed to start tinkering.
After mid-March, the Senate agriculture committee heads west for hearings across the Prairies.
Critics of the legislation are lining up for time at the microphones.
“Many are looking to the Senate to amend the bill, and from entirely contradictory positions,” said Winnipeg Conservative senator Mira Spivak. “We need to hear the arguments to ensure that there will be no unforeseen consequences of this bill, and to heed recommendations for improvement. We need to do a thorough safety check before this bill is allowed to go on the road.”
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Based on senator comments during the second reading debate and the first meeting of the Senate agriculture committee Feb. 26, they will be pressing witnesses on a number of issues.
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Committee chair and Saskatchewan Conservative Len Gustafson said he is nervous about the impact of the proposed contingency fund and farmer checkoffs, the proposal to allow new grains to be added to the CWB monopoly and the government refusal to open board books to the federal auditor general.
“I hope that this bill can be improved with amendments in order that it may work to the benefit of all agriculture in Canada,” he said.
Liberal senator Eugene Whelan came at the issue from the other side. He said he wants to be certain the changes proposed would not undermine the wheat board, as the CWB advisory committee majority has alleged.
Manitoba Tory senator Terry Stratton said the committee should give farmers a chance to explain why they fear an “inclusion” clause. He said they do not trust the government not to use the power to impose something on farmers.
“That is their inherent fear and it is one to which we should pay attention when our committee is out there traveling,” said Stratton.
