national
farmers union
WASKATENAU, Alta-"Alberta Agriculture Minister Ed Stelmach should rethink his recent statements about Canadian unity and the function of parliament," said Cory Ollikka, Vice President of the National Farmers Union (NFU). "If Canada is to remain a sovereign nation with the ability to protect the interests of her entire citizenry, then regions of the country shouldn't be played off against one another in petty rivalries," said Ollikka.
Ollikka was commenting on the Alberta Minister's recent comments that the inclusion clause in Bill C-4 (the Canadian Wheat Board amendments) is irrelevant because it was proposed by a maritime MP and voted on as part of the Bill by a parliament which included eastern MPs. The inclusion clause is a mechanism that would allow producers of a given commodity to democratically decide whether that commodity was marketed under CWB jurisdiction or through the open market.
"It is irresponsible for a democratically-elected MLA to suggest that public policy and government legislation can only be relevant if proposed by 'geographically-correct' parliamentarians. The Minister pointed to his government's strong federalist policies and efforts, but it is inconsistent with these federalist efforts to say that eastern MPs in a Canadian Parliament should not discuss western matters. Western MPs certainly discuss matters of vital interest to the Maritimes. That is the nature of parliamentary democracy in a country as large as Canada. Is Minister Stelmach in favour of a united and democratic Canada or not?" asked Ollikka.
The inclusion clause was proposed by Wayne Easter, MP for Malpeque, PEI. Easter is also a former President of the NFU. "As NFU President, Mr. Easter worked closely with many farmers across Canada, including many in Minister Stelmach's own constituency," noted Ollikka. "To be sure, Easter has a keen understanding of agricultural policy. It earned him an honorary doctorate degree as well."
"I would rather see this glaring inconsistency between Minister Stelmach and the Alberta government as a petty stab against the NFU and our widely supported Pro-Canadian Wheat Board policies than believe that the Minister is unclear about what it takes to maintain a strong, united, and democratic nation," concluded Ollikka.
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