The bill to end the Canadian Wheat Board's hold on all western Canadian sales of wheat and barley is due to pass third reading in a House of Commons vote Monday evening.
With his Alberta and Saskatchewan counterparts at his side, federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz called the vote on the bill to make the wheat board voluntary "a choice between stifling the western economy and creating new jobs and economic opportunities."
Alberta Agriculture Minister Evan Berger agreed.
"There will be reinvestment, there will be rural reinvigoration, there will be opportunities to move back to the rural areas and open up businesses again in the value-added (industries)," said Berger.
A handful of protesters from the National Farmers Union showed up outside Ritz's morning news conference and screamed at the minister when he emerged.
"Bastards!" yelled purple-faced NFU board member and Alberta farmer Jan Slomp. "Hey, turn around! I'm coming for you!"
Slomp also accused the Alberta government of taking advantage of gullible farmers through its lobbying against a mandatory wheat board.
"There's too many dumb farmers that after 20 years of being lied to, they start believing it," Slomp said.
The Conservatives are pressing the Senate to pass the Marketing Freedom for Western Grain Act quickly once it clears the Commons.
Ritz says he expects "silly tactics" from the opposition in the Senate, but still hopes to see the bill receive royal assent before Christmas
With his Alberta and Saskatchewan counterparts at his side, federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz called the vote on the bill to make the wheat board voluntary "a choice between stifling the western economy and creating new jobs and economic opportunities."
Alberta Agriculture Minister Evan Berger agreed.
"There will be reinvestment, there will be rural reinvigoration, there will be opportunities to move back to the rural areas and open up businesses again in the value-added (industries)," said Berger.
A handful of protesters from the National Farmers Union showed up outside Ritz's morning news conference and screamed at the minister when he emerged.
"Bastards!" yelled purple-faced NFU board member and Alberta farmer Jan Slomp. "Hey, turn around! I'm coming for you!"
Slomp also accused the Alberta government of taking advantage of gullible farmers through its lobbying against a mandatory wheat board.
"There's too many dumb farmers that after 20 years of being lied to, they start believing it," Slomp said.
The Conservatives are pressing the Senate to pass the Marketing Freedom for Western Grain Act quickly once it clears the Commons.
Ritz says he expects "silly tactics" from the opposition in the Senate, but still hopes to see the bill receive royal assent before Christmas
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