2007-08 (August)
BLAINE CALKINS MP REPORT
August 21, 2007
Barley Setback
Barley producers who voted for the right to market their own crop had their hopes dashed by a Federal Court Judge. On July 31st, Madam Justice Hansen sided with the Friends of the Wheat Board and the Provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. She ruled that the regulations to end the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly, passed by the Federal Cabinet, would not come into effect on August 1st, as planned.
During the last election, Conservatives promised to give Western grain farmers the freedom to make their own marketing decisions. Since grain farmers take all the risks and make all the investments, we felt that they deserved the chance to seek out the best possible return that makes good business sense to them – whether selling to the Canadian Wheat Board or outside of it.
The plebiscite held last winter honoured our commitment to provide market choice, while continuing to preserve a strong, yet voluntary Canadian Wheat Board. Western barley growers gave our Government a strong mandate to proceed with market choice by removing the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly on barley sales.
Barley prices rose in response to the plebiscite results. In the wake of the Judge’s ruling, barley prices dropped.
In 1971, barley became part of the CWB monopoly by regulatory change. Since barley was moved into the CWB by regulations, we believed that it could be removed the same way. Judge Hansen disagreed.
At our national Caucus meeting in Charlottetown on August 2nd, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Agriculture and Agri-food Minister Chuck Strahl made it clear that this court decision was a temporary setback. In the mean time, the Canadian Wheat Board recognized that the status quo is no longer an option and it is encouraging to hear CWB Chairman, Ken Ritter, say that it can't be "business as usual”.
I know that farmers and our government will be watching closely to see if those changes are real and substantial, or merely window dressing. As Minister Strahl said, “If the Wheat Board won't take care of people, we'll do it ourselves because we are the real friends of farmers.”
By supporting marketing choice for Canadian farm producers, Canada’s New Government is building a stronger, safer, better Canada – for all of us.
I am looking forward to working with Mr. Strahl in his new capacity as Indian and Northern Affairs Minister and I welcome the appointment of Battlefords—Lloydminster MP, the Hon. Gerry Ritz, as Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food.
If you wish more information on these or any federally related matters please contact my Constituency office at: #6, 4612 - 50th Street, Ponoka, T4J 1S7 tel: (403) 783-5530; toll free:1-800-665-0865 or check my web site: www.blainecalkinsmp.ca
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