Tuesday, 13 December 2011 19:23
DEBATES OF THE SENATE - ORDERS OF THE DAY - Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Bill
Hon. Maria Chaput: Honourable senators, today, I would like to speak about the Canadian Wheat Board, a subject that has been on our minds a great deal lately and that certainly deserves to be discussed seriously and thoroughly. On a related note, I will also speak about Bill C-18.
The Canadian Wheat Board came out of the simple realization that Canadian farmers, as individuals, would have very little negotiating power when dealing with large grain and transportation companies. The Wheat Board's history is typical of Canada and characterized by the Canadian attitude that it is possible to overcome any obstacle by working together and demonstrating initiative and creativity. This is also the story of a government that, over 75 years ago, listened to farmers' concerns and worked with them to find a solution that met their needs.
I would like to point out, in passing, that the specific reason why the government got involved in this initiative with farmers was the major economic crisis that was occurring at that time. In a world that was still reeling from the economic crash of 1929, the Wheat Board offered farmers stability at a time of global economic uncertainty. There is a historical parallel in this regard.
I would also like to mention that, although participation was voluntary when the Wheat Board was created in 1935, this model had already been abandoned by the early 1940s, when participation became mandatory. It was found that voluntary participation simply did not offer the desired benefits, specifically stable income for farmers. Once again, there are lessons to be learned from history.
Since that time, the Canadian Wheat Board has become an institution of which all Canadians should be proud. From its humble beginnings, it became the largest wheat and barley dealer in the world, controlling 20 per cent of the international market. It is an institution run by farmers for farmers with an internationally recognized head office located in Winnipeg. A total of 2,000 jobs in Manitoba depend either directly or indirectly to the Wheat Board. The Government of Manitoba even credits the Wheat Board with contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to its economy.
The province expresses concern on its website that, if the board is dismantled:
Manitoba's future as a continental transportation hub could be compromised. The Port of Churchill and our Arctic trade opportunities would be jeopardized.
The Canadian Wheat Board is also an institution that, most importantly — since it was reformed in 1998 and 10 of its 15 administrators from then on had to be elected by farmers — really allows farmers to determine its path, priorities and future.
And of course our farmers were up to the task, increasing the number of options for members while maintaining the undeniable advantages afforded by keeping the single-desk system.
In short, for 76 years, Western Canada has had an institution that was born of the collective efforts of farmers and the government, one that has managed to grow and evolve through this same collective effort, in order to better serve farmers and all Canadians.
This last year has definitely been the least glorious year in the history of the CWB. Indeed, with all that has happened over the past few months, just one question keeps popping into my mind: how did we get to this point?
How did we get to such a point that, last November, we heard the federal Minister of Agriculture gratuitously accuse the Canadian Wheat Board Chairman of stealing money from its members, until the minister was forced to retract his comments?
How did we get to the point where cooperation between the board and the government has disappeared completely, to the point where it has been replaced by legal action? How did we get to the point where farmers' voices are suddenly being completely ignored, when they had been gaining more and more strength — and rightfully so — in the board's administration?
How did we get to the point where the government is putting doubts in people's minds, without any evidence at all, regarding the legitimacy and integrity of the democratic process among the members of the board? Have we simply forgotten that we are talking about an institution that took it upon itself to invite the Auditor General of Canada to audit its books?
How did we get to the point where we received a large number of letters from farmers who do not understand why the government is refusing to listen to them?
How did we get to the point where, finally, the Federal Court admonished the government for breaking the law?
So many troubling questions and so many answers that are still not forthcoming. Unfortunately, in light of all these questions, no one can say that the government dealt with the board's future in a thoughtful and responsible way. This quick and shameful degeneration was never inevitable.
Although the government was duly elected by Canadian voters, I dare say that it also knows that Canadians did not give it a blank cheque. I would also think that, despite what we have heard repeatedly, the government realizes that it is not always right just because it was elected.
Finally, I would like to believe that the government also understands that its right to implement its political agenda has never precluded its responsibility to communicate and collaborate, respectfully and in good faith, with the stakeholders concerned.
That is the very foundation of the principle of good democratic governance, as the Federal Court reminded us so well last week.
I urge the government to show restraint and dignity in its future public interventions and to seriously and soberly reconsider the fate of the Canadian Wheat Board. Last week, during the meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, we heard testimony from a number of farmers who had serious concerns about the future of their farms. They deserve respect.
At the very least, since the matter is before the courts and the government has decided to appeal the ruling by the Federal Court, we should allow justice to take its course.
Again, our farmers deserve that and our democratic process deserves that.