BREITKREUZ URGES GOVERNMENT TO END GRAIN HANDLERS LOCKOUT

“Government needs to stop leaving farmers in the middle of these disputes.”

OTTAWA – This afternoon in the House of Commons, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, addressed the continuing lockout of grain handlers at the Port of Vancouver in a statement to the House. In it, Breitkreuz asked the government when it would take action to end the current dispute – one of many which has plagued the Port over the last few years. Here is Breitkreuz’s statement to the House:

Mr. Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton-Melville, Canadian Alliance) -- Mr. Speaker, Grain Handlers at the Port of Vancouver have been locked out since September 3rd, 2002, causing the shipment of grain to come to an almost complete halt. Our grain and oilseed producers are already facing financial hardships from years of rising foreign subsidies, continuous years of drought and poor grain prices. Now our producers are about to be hit again with another labour dispute. We have seen this situation over and over again – it wasn’t that long ago that grain handlers were on strike hurting the economy and innocent third parties, mainly farmers. The government goes from one crisis to another with no vision as to what the future may hold. Where is the long range planning on the government side? The Alliance has given the government an effective strategy that has been totally ignored. When will farmers see a dispute resolution mechanism so that their products can be shipped uninterrupted to overseas customers? Will the government wait until the damage is done before it takes action?

“ I find it appalling that the government would allow such a dispute to drag on for over a month. Grain and oilseed producers are constantly placed in the middle of these disputes leaving them to pay for demurrage and elevation charges,” said Breitkreuz.

With news that United States President George W. Bush has initiated proceedings to end the Port lockout on the U.S. West Coast, it may signal that grain shipments may be sent to American ports if the Vancouver dispute drags on.

“We all want to see a negotiated settlement that is good for both parties. But strikes and lockouts leave thousands of grain and oilseed produces holding the bag. The government needs to put in place a dispute resolution mechanism so that grain terminals and grain handlers are getting ships loaded, while making sure that the flow of grain remains constant, “ said Breitkreuz.

“What we have now is a government that continually drags its heels when it comes to the economic well-being of Western Canada. How long will the government wait before it ensures that grains and oilseeds will once again move to foreign markets?” concluded Breitkreuz.

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