Not only the Board, but the Minister of the CWB is not prepared to follow the CWB Act. Listen to what went on in the house:
Mr. Howard Hilstrom (Selkirk-Interlake, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker,
western farmers are not in charge of the Canadian Wheat Board. Western
farmers did not get a vote to establish a monopoly. Farmers did not vote on
Bill C-4 in 1998. Farmers do not set the initial price. Farmers do not vote
on all 15 directors. Farmers do not vote on the appointment of the
president. Farmers do not vote on amending the Canadian Wheat Board Act,
only politicians can.
How can the minister say that farmers are in charge when he makes all of
the decisions?
Mr. Paul Szabo (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works
and Government Services, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Wheat Board is
comprised of 15 directors, two-thirds of which are elected by western
Canadian farmers.
The Canadian Wheat Board is not a crown corporation and contrary to what
the member said, the minister does not control the Canadian Wheat Board.
Mr. David Anderson (Cypress Hills-Grasslands, Canadian Alliance): Mr.
Speaker, it is worse than that. The board of directors of the Canadian Wheat
Board, with this minister's knowledge, has been stealing Prairie farmers'
money to pay wheat export permits for Ontario and Quebec farmers. This
activity actually directly contradicts the minister's own legislation.
The board is breaking the law working against the interests of Prairie
farmers. Is this minister going to continue to allow the board to operate
outside the law or is he going to step in to recover the money stolen from
Prairie producers who now need protection from the Canadian Wheat Board?
Mr. Paul Szabo (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works
and Government Services, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the member says that the
farmers need the protection of the Canadian Wheat Board. What I do not
understand is the Alliance itself came forward with a motion calling for the
end of the Canadian Wheat Board. This contradiction should be known by
western Canadian farmers.
Western Canadian farmers have the tools to make necessary changes to the
Canadian Wheat Board Act. They have the vote. The government respects the
democratic rights of western Canadian farmers.
* * *
Mr. Howard Hilstrom (Selkirk-Interlake, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker,
western farmers are not in charge of the Canadian Wheat Board. Western
farmers did not get a vote to establish a monopoly. Farmers did not vote on
Bill C-4 in 1998. Farmers do not set the initial price. Farmers do not vote
on all 15 directors. Farmers do not vote on the appointment of the
president. Farmers do not vote on amending the Canadian Wheat Board Act,
only politicians can.
How can the minister say that farmers are in charge when he makes all of
the decisions?
Mr. Paul Szabo (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works
and Government Services, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Wheat Board is
comprised of 15 directors, two-thirds of which are elected by western
Canadian farmers.
The Canadian Wheat Board is not a crown corporation and contrary to what
the member said, the minister does not control the Canadian Wheat Board.
Mr. David Anderson (Cypress Hills-Grasslands, Canadian Alliance): Mr.
Speaker, it is worse than that. The board of directors of the Canadian Wheat
Board, with this minister's knowledge, has been stealing Prairie farmers'
money to pay wheat export permits for Ontario and Quebec farmers. This
activity actually directly contradicts the minister's own legislation.
The board is breaking the law working against the interests of Prairie
farmers. Is this minister going to continue to allow the board to operate
outside the law or is he going to step in to recover the money stolen from
Prairie producers who now need protection from the Canadian Wheat Board?
Mr. Paul Szabo (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works
and Government Services, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the member says that the
farmers need the protection of the Canadian Wheat Board. What I do not
understand is the Alliance itself came forward with a motion calling for the
end of the Canadian Wheat Board. This contradiction should be known by
western Canadian farmers.
Western Canadian farmers have the tools to make necessary changes to the
Canadian Wheat Board Act. They have the vote. The government respects the
democratic rights of western Canadian farmers.
* * *
Comment