Menzies Disappointed that Opposition Parties Blocked Important Canadian Wheat Board Legislation

June 12, 2008

Ottawa – Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, expressed disappointment that opposition parties have blocked the Government’s move to send key pieces of legislation dealing with the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) directly to the Agriculture Committee. By refusing to give unanimous consent the opposition is preventing this important legislation from helping Western Canadian farmers as quickly as possible, Menzies explained.

“We are standing up for Western Canadian farmers by trying to the obtain approval for key pieces of the CWB legislation as quickly as possible,” said Menzies. “But Stephane Dion, Jack Layton, and Gilles Duceppe have refused to allow the Agriculture Committee to even look at this legislation.”

Bill C-46 will deliver on this Government's campaign promise to enact barley marketing freedom and allow Western Canadian barley producers to choose whether to sell their crops on the open market or through the CWB. The CWB’s recent polling shows that nearly 70% of Western Canadian farmers want barley marketing freedom. Yet 70% of the Members of the House of Commons, who don’t even represent Western Farmers, are voting against something that 70% of Western farmers want.

“This Government is listening to farmers and working hard to deliver the legislation they are demanding,” said Menzies. “The opposition parties have a responsibility to do the right thing for farmers and move this legislation through committee.”