Harper vows that Wheat Board battle 'isn't over'

[BitWhys]

The little fascist twerp continues to attempt to sow the seeds of discontent.

Canadian Press
August 6, 2007 at 11:53 PM EDT

LLOYDMINSTER, SASK. — Farmers are “sick and tired” of efforts to block changes that would end the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly on barley sales, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Monday on a visit to the Prairies.

Mr. Harper told about 300 Conservative supporters in Lloydminster, which straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary, that he isn't giving up on making the change.

“Mark my words, this battle isn't over,” said Mr. Harper, prompting applause from most of the crowd.

“We may have to wait until next season, but we are going to get this market open whether the Wheat Board likes it or not.”

Last week, a judge quashed the government's attempt to end the monopoly, saying the federal cabinet didn't have the authority to make the change without the approval of Parliament.

Mr. Harper noted Monday that farmers have spoken — referring to a plebiscite in which the majority of producers voted for a dual-marketing option for barley.

"And farmers are going to eventually win this battle,” he said.

The Prime Minister still has not said how the issue will move forward or whether the government will appeal the ruling.

The Wheat Board message was part of an 18-minute-long campaign-style speech Mr. Harper delivered in a room where the tablecloths and centerpieces were decked out in Tory blue and white.

The speech covered a range of topics including agriculture, crime and the military.

Mr. Harper also took aim the Opposition and alluded to the feud between Ottawa and the provinces.

In opening his remarks, Mr. Harper said that for more than a decade “the Prairies had barely registered on the radar” of the previous government of Canada.

Liberals in the Senate, he argued, are currently holding up the passage of crimes bills, “defying common sense.”

But Mr. Harper also said that “despite the occasional squabbling or the occasional attacks we get between governments,” Canada has not been this united since its centennial 40 years ago.

The comment comes after the premiers of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan all recently said they were ignored when the prime minister visited their provinces.

The premiers are angry with Mr. Harper over the revamped equalization formula in the March budget.

If Harper had the interests of what he thinks is the majority of farmers in mind instead of relying on false populism for votes this COULD have been over already. All Harper had to do is bring the results of a PROPER plebiscite to parliament.

No treasury board guarantees. If the farmers want a free market that's what they should get.

Dual market is a crock. If the farmers want a dual market, privatize it.

 

[TenPenny]

If the majority of farmers want to do away with the wheat board, then I'd say do so, but with that comes NO support for when the bottom falls out of the market.

Everyone wants the benfits of the good times, and to be protected for the bad times. Tough luck.

 

[Unforgiven]

Heh heh heh 300 people gathered by the local riding association does not a plebiscite make.

 

[BitWhys]

Harper won't float a decent plebiscite on this. He's well aware which way the vote will go if he puts the viable options on the table. After that he'd be reduced to malcontent demagogy, ie. the votes he has now or less.

 

[Unforgiven]

Harper won't float a decent plebiscite on this. He's well aware which way the vote will go if he puts the viable options on the table. After that he'd be reduced to malcontent demagogy, ie. the votes he has now or less.

You know it's the hypocracy that bugs me most.

 

[BitWhys]

You know it's the hypocracy that bugs me most.

The only thing that bugs me is I can't hit the fast forward.

of course

I'm still foolish enough to have faith in human nature.

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

What's the point in having a Parliment if the PM is going to act like he's the ultimate authority in the country. I get the distinct impression that if Harper ever gets his majority, what little local representation we still have left will disappear. He'll be there to decide almost totally on his own what's right for all of us, no matter the consequences. It would be easier to take this arrogance if he wasn't so self-rightous about the Liberals doing essentially the same thing back in 2005. Remember having a Christmas election because it was SO important to get the Grits out of power. What ever happened to a more accountable, open, respectful government.

All Harper seems to bring is a very un-Canadian "my way or the highway" approach to government in the style of Bush and Cheney.

 

[BitWhys]

Father knows best. ;-)

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

Maybe that's the problem, Harper thinks of Canadians as his children instead of his employers. If he's not working for us then who is he working for anyway?

 

[BitWhys]

oh lookie.

two months ago...

Strahl said he's disappointed in the court challenge, adding all it does is create uncertainty in the market.

but now the shoe is on the other foot...

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said Thursday the government will appeal a federal court judge's ruling that the Conservative cabinet overstepped its authority in trying to end the monopoly.

Maybe the twisted irony of seeing their penchant for double standards being so blatantly employed is in itself worth the court costs but otherwise the stupid Fascists are wasting our money again.:roll:

 

[wallyj]

Well,hello Mr. Bitwhys,I suppose the fact that a vote was held and the farmers did vote for change is not valid because you disagree with the results. Liberal hypocrisy about democracy. Once again the conservatives will have to go to court to prove thier point because the libs want to keep thier plum patronage posts such as the wheat board and the senate alive.

 

[Tonington]

And the majority of votes cast was for the option to sell where they choose, while maintaining the wheat board option.

The problem is that the Government choose to make changes to the regulations, without amendments to the Act which governs this particular issue, hence why the court ruled against the Government.

 

[wallyj]

And the majority of votes cast was for the option to sell where they choose, while maintaining the wheat board option.

The problem is that the Government choose to make changes to the regulations, without amendments to the Act which governs this particular issue, hence why the court ruled against the Government.

Then it is a procedural problem which should be corrected when parliament resumes,unless the libs decide that western farmers should not have the same freedom as the rest of Canada.

 

[BitWhys]

Harper doesn't have the guts to drag that joke of nosecount into Parliament. Dion would shred him.

 

[Albertabound]

So in the mean time wheat hits almost record highs but the Canadian farmer can not take advantage of these prices because the wheat board will not allow them. Most all country elevators are not accepting wheat because there is no call for it from the wheat board.

 

[BitWhys]

So in the mean time wheat hits almost record highs but the Canadian farmer can not take advantage of these prices because the wheat board will not allow them. Most all country elevators are not accepting wheat because there is no call for it from the wheat board.

If you say so. Maybe if Strahl hadn't wasted two seasons trying to pull a fast one the cause wouldn't be sitting on square one again.

Get a proper vote on a proper plan (ie. WITHOUT retaining the Part III guarantees) and take it to Parliament. and good luck with that.

 

[Albertabound]

If you say so.

I know so. It's right in the middle of harvest and you can't even deliver any grain to the elevators.

 

[Tonington]

I don't know about Alberta, even though I worked there for the past 4 months, but my uncle in Saskatchewan had no problems. World wheat prices are up due to the crappy conditions globally this year. He won't have a bumper crop, but he said it was very good considering the crazy heat in July.

 

[Albertabound]

phone any elevator in Saskatchewan and as if they are accepting any winter wheat or hard red spring and their answer will be ....no.

 

[wallyj]

If you say so. Maybe if Strahl hadn't wasted two seasons trying to pull a fast one the cause wouldn't be sitting on square one again.

Get a proper vote on a proper plan (ie. WITHOUT retaining the Part III guarantees) and take it to Parliament. and good luck with that.

Nice try. The wheat board is not working in the interests of farmers because of Strahl.BS, NOTHING HAS CHANGED YET. The wheat board is not working because it is a faulty mechanism,not because farmers want to change it. On the other hand you may be right.the wheat board isn't helping farmers because they are in a petulant snit. How dare those farmers tell us what they want. We know what is best for them.