CWB
USES FARMERS’ MONEY TO SUPPORT LIBERAL PARTY FUNDRAISER
“Directors
appointed by the Liberal Government violated their own Code of Conduct.”
OTTAWA
– Today,
Yorkton-Melville MP, Garry Breitkreuz revealed a further breach of ethics by the
Liberals. Breitkreuz asked the
Prime Minister for answers but even Chretien’s Ministers were blindsided by
the Saskatchewan MP’s question:
Mr.
Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville, Canadian Alliance):
Mr. Speaker, last Thursday 10 officials of the Canadian Wheat Board attended the
now famous Liberal Party fundraiser in Winnipeg at a price tag of at least $400
each. The money for the tickets was taken from prairie wheat farmers who are
forced to participate in this monopoly. Forcing farmers to donate their
hard-earned money to the Liberal Party is clearly wrong.
Does the Prime Minister not see this as a highly unethical practice?
Hon.
Don Boudria (Minister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, approximately two years ago a directive was issued that crown
corporations were not to make contributions to political parties. I committed
myself at that time that if any of them did, the money would be returned.
Mr.
Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville, Canadian Alliance):
Mr. Speaker, it goes beyond that. The government appointed five of the directors
present at the Liberal Party fundraiser. They clearly contravened the code of
conduct guidelines for directors of the Canadian Wheat Board. These guidelines
state: “A director's political activities must be clearly separated from
activities related to his or her appointment”. Does the Prime Minister support his wheat board officials
violating their own code of conduct and what will they do about it?
Hon.
Ralph Goodale (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Minister
responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and
Non-Status Indians, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I have no personal knowledge at all of the matters that the hon.
gentleman alleges, but quite frankly, I take the allegations seriously.
I will make the appropriate inquiries and if any guidelines have in fact
been contravened corrective action will be taken.
“Forcing
prairie farmers into donating their money to the Liberal Party without their
knowledge is inexcusable,” said Breitkreuz.
“Farmers are battling drought, a possible grasshopper infestation, and
now, part of their pay cheque, is confiscated by a forced check-off.”
“The
CWB is one of the most secret organizations we have in Canada.
This episode clearly shows that we need to lift the veil of secrecy from
the Board and have their books opened,” said Breitkreuz.
“We have asked the Auditor General to look into the mandate of the
Board, we have asked that the Board be subject to the Access to Information Act.
It is time for the Board to be an open and accountable organization.
They should operate at arms length to government,” concluded
Breitkreuz.
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