Yorkton – Garry Breitkreuz, MP Yorkton – Melville and Official Opposition Agriculture Critic, is wondering if there are two types of justice for Canadian farmers following a Lethbridge court decision. On September 15, 1999, Justice Michael Stevens-Guille found Harley Frank, a member of the Blood Tribe in Alberta, guilty of exporting barley into the United States without a Canadian Wheat Board export license. However, Frank was given an absolute discharge because Justice Stevens-Guille didn’t think he was selling the grain to make a profit, but was doing it to challenge the current law.

"I am puzzled by the recent court decision. We have had farmers just like Harley Frank try and challenge the current Canadian Wheat Board laws, but these farmers, instead of being given an absolute discharge, were put in shackles and chains, thrown in jail and given huge fines. What is the difference here? Andy McMechan, a Manitoba farmer, was found guilty of exporting to the U.S. with out a CWB license, but instead of being given an absolute discharge, he was thrown in Jail for 155 days and received $90 thousand in fines. Where does the court draw the line between farmers found guilty of exporting without a CWB license?" Breitkreuz questioned.

On October 26, 1999 another group of farmers will be in court in Regina, Saskatchewan to learn the results of their challenge against the CWB’s export licensing laws. "Here we have another case of farmers who have shipped grain across the Canada – U.S. border to challenge the jurisdiction of the CWB. If these farmers are found guilty of violating CWB laws then there should be an absolute discharge given to all these producers. The precedent has been set. If one farmer can challenge the law and receive no penalty, then all farmers who challenge the laws should receive no penalty," declared Breitkreuz.

"Our courts have to make sure the rules for all farmers are the same. If one producer gets thrown in jail for violating CWB laws and another gets no penalty, then we have to question why the difference? The courts cannot and should not discriminate against producers who challenge the CWB. Many farmers have been treated unjustly by our court system over their challenges against the CWB, but now that the precedent has been set all our producers should be treated equally," Breitkreuz stated.

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