January 23, 1998                                                                                                                      For Immediate Delivery

Breitkreuz Appeals to Goodale: Listen to Farmers - Amend Bill C-4
Amendments get strong support at Wheat Board Forum in Yorkton

Yorkton -- Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. for Yorkton-Melville was pleasantly surprised by the huge turn-out for the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) Forum he sponsored at the Parkland Agriplex yesterday afternoon. "Obviously grain producers are concerned with the government’s legislation and need a means of expressing that concern," said Breitkreuz. Close to 300 people (3 times the number expected) crowded the room to hear guest speakers, Michael Halyk and Bill Cooper, both local farmers, assess Breitkreuz’ amendments and Bill C-4. Jack Dawes, GX94 Agriculture reporter, moderated the event that saw strong sentiments expressed on both sides of the CWB issue.

Almost unanimous support was given for the amendments to provide a preamble to the CWB Act, underlining the importance of the Board’s task of maximizing the return to producers, and to change the Board’s mandate from "orderly marketing and promoting the sale of grain" to "securing the best financial return for farmers."

More than 80% of farmers supported the "opt-out" clause allowing producers to exclude one or more types of grain from control of the Act for a minimum of 5 years. Two-thirds of those present supported Breitkreuz’ sunset clause to repeal the CWB Act if the Auditor General determines the Board does not substantially meet its objective in the next five years. "The purpose of my amendments is to bring the two sides of the debate together," explained Breitkreuz. "Obviously, by the support these amendments are receiving, that’s happening." One farmer remarked, "These amendments do more to address the concerns of farmers than anything Mr. Goodale has done in four years."

Many expressed concern that the CWB seems to place a higher priority on serving government rather than farmers. Both guest speakers agreed that Bill C-4, in its present form, is not good legislation and that Breitkreuz’ amendments deserve Goodale’s attention. Others wondered whether the Wheat Board Minister would listen, given his track record. Breitkreuz responded by saying, "We can’t give up. The strong support these amendments have received allows me to speak with a lot more authority when debate on C-4 resumes in February. This meeting clearly demonstrates that C-4 is seriously flawed and should be amended or scrapped." I appeal to Mr. Goodale to listen to farmers."

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For a copy of Garry’s amendments, please contact:

The Office of Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.