January 11, 2000

Open Letter to Hon. David Collenette
Federal Minister of Transport
Place de Ville, Tower C, 29th Floor
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, ON K1A ON5

Dear Mr. Collenette:

According to a memorandum apparently written on November 25, 1999 by the Prairie Farm Commodity Coalition (Western Canadian Wheat Growers, etc.), your officials are coaching the Commodity Coalition to take certain actions designed to further the Estey-Kroeger-Railway Agenda.

The memo states, "The 'voice of dissent' has been clearly heard, and officials tell us that Ministers must now hear the 'voice of support' from the stakeholders if reform is to proceed. Transport Canada officials apprise us that a letter like the attached would be extremely useful, but that timing is critical and that it should be on Ministers' desks within a week."

Assuming that the memorandum is legitimate, I have a few questions and comments for you

1. regarding this matter:
2. Were you aware that your officials had been coaching the Prairie Farm Commodity Coalition and in effect using the coalition for Transport Canada purposes?
3. Were your officials acting on your advice when coaching the coalition, or were they on their own?
4. Are there other instances of coaching from your department to the coalition?
5. According to a survey completed for the Government of Saskatchewan in August of 1999, the Prairie Farm Commodity Coalition (including the Western Canadian Wheat Growers) represents the viewpoint of only 7% of the farmers.

Notwithstanding the fact that this is an open letter, I would like a response.

Yours truly,
Stewart Wells
Saskatchewan Board Member
National Farmers Union