The Leader-Post (Regina)
2008.03.28
Ritz wants debate soon
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz wants to see legislation to remove barley marketing from the Canadian Wheat Board debated as soon as possible after Parliament resumes next week.
Speaking from Washington, D.C., where met with his U.S. counterpart Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, Ritz said he hoped the CWB bill will be dealt with sooner rather than later.
"That's still up for discussion. The House leaders are still working on that,'' Ritz told reporters Thursday.
"The first three days are slated as supply days for the opposition parties. After that, we'll have some discussions in the operations committee this week as to what (bill) will come up next,'' Ritz said.
"From a personal standpoint, I'd like to see it up (for debate) as quickly as possible, but we'll wait and see what negotiations bear fruit.''
But Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale flatly denied Ritz's statement that discussions have been held on the wheat board legislation.
"There have been absolutely no discussions,'' Goodale said from his office in Ottawa.
Goodale said the government has no one to blame but itself for any delays in getting the bill through Parliament. "It's been introduced. It's had first reading... It's up to the government to call the bill for second reading debate, which they have not done.''
Goodale said the bill hasn't been put on the priority list for debate next week. He added he wasn't sure whether Ritz was being disingenuous, or just "misinformed about House procedure."
The Regina-Wascana MP and former agriculture minister also questioned whether there would be sufficient time to get the bill through Parliament before the summer break in June.
While there are nine weeks of debate left in this current session of Parliament, Goodale said the government still has to pass its budget legislation, which includes some controversial immigration rule changes.
And the wheat board legislation itself is hugely controversial on the Prairies, he added. That means debate is liable to be protracted, both in the House and at the committee stage.
"This is a vital issue on the Prairies. We need to hear about this issue on the Prairies and not in some sterile committee room in Ottawa.''
Given the tight timelines the bill faces in Parliament and in front of the Common agriculture committee, Goodale was not optimistic the bill could be passed before the new crop year begins Aug. 1.
"The time available to deal with it all is very limited,'' Goodale said. "No one knows if this legislation is going to pass. There's an odds-on chance it won't.
"It's very bad management on the part of the government.''
Meanwhile, Ritz announced that Canada, the U.S. and Mexico have reached an agreement harmonizing North America with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards for trade in bovine breeding stock, which will also allow Canadian cattle to be shipped through the U.S. to Mexico.
Ritz said the agreement follows on deals earlier this year that would permit the export of Canadian dairy replacement cattle to Mexico through the U.S.
"This is very good news for Canadian livestock exporters and an important step in restoring full market access with all of our trading partners,'' Ritz told reporters.
"This is an important win toward our full goal of normalizing trade in North America.''
2008.03.28
Ritz wants debate soon
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz wants to see legislation to remove barley marketing from the Canadian Wheat Board debated as soon as possible after Parliament resumes next week.
Speaking from Washington, D.C., where met with his U.S. counterpart Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, Ritz said he hoped the CWB bill will be dealt with sooner rather than later.
"That's still up for discussion. The House leaders are still working on that,'' Ritz told reporters Thursday.
"The first three days are slated as supply days for the opposition parties. After that, we'll have some discussions in the operations committee this week as to what (bill) will come up next,'' Ritz said.
"From a personal standpoint, I'd like to see it up (for debate) as quickly as possible, but we'll wait and see what negotiations bear fruit.''
But Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale flatly denied Ritz's statement that discussions have been held on the wheat board legislation.
"There have been absolutely no discussions,'' Goodale said from his office in Ottawa.
Goodale said the government has no one to blame but itself for any delays in getting the bill through Parliament. "It's been introduced. It's had first reading... It's up to the government to call the bill for second reading debate, which they have not done.''
Goodale said the bill hasn't been put on the priority list for debate next week. He added he wasn't sure whether Ritz was being disingenuous, or just "misinformed about House procedure."
The Regina-Wascana MP and former agriculture minister also questioned whether there would be sufficient time to get the bill through Parliament before the summer break in June.
While there are nine weeks of debate left in this current session of Parliament, Goodale said the government still has to pass its budget legislation, which includes some controversial immigration rule changes.
And the wheat board legislation itself is hugely controversial on the Prairies, he added. That means debate is liable to be protracted, both in the House and at the committee stage.
"This is a vital issue on the Prairies. We need to hear about this issue on the Prairies and not in some sterile committee room in Ottawa.''
Given the tight timelines the bill faces in Parliament and in front of the Common agriculture committee, Goodale was not optimistic the bill could be passed before the new crop year begins Aug. 1.
"The time available to deal with it all is very limited,'' Goodale said. "No one knows if this legislation is going to pass. There's an odds-on chance it won't.
"It's very bad management on the part of the government.''
Meanwhile, Ritz announced that Canada, the U.S. and Mexico have reached an agreement harmonizing North America with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards for trade in bovine breeding stock, which will also allow Canadian cattle to be shipped through the U.S. to Mexico.
Ritz said the agreement follows on deals earlier this year that would permit the export of Canadian dairy replacement cattle to Mexico through the U.S.
"This is very good news for Canadian livestock exporters and an important step in restoring full market access with all of our trading partners,'' Ritz told reporters.
"This is an important win toward our full goal of normalizing trade in North America.''
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