May 14, 2009 – Canada’s Conservative Government is working hard deliver more than $1 billion in Government-backed credit to previously ineligible farmers, but Liberals are going back on their pledge to support the legislation and are now blocking the vital legislation needed in order to protect losses by the CWB.
 
“Canadian farmers need immediate access to this Government-backed credit and these Liberal stall tactics are taking money out of producers’ pockets,” said David Anderson, a Saskatchewan farmer who serves as Parliamentary Secretary for the Canadian Wheat Board and Member of Parliament for Cypress Hill-Grasslands. “The Liberals gave their word that they support this vital legislation – now they are turning their backs on Canadian producers to play political games.”
 
Opposition House Leader Ralph Goodale pledged Liberal support for the Conservative Government’s legislation on Thursday, May 7, when he told Parliament he wanted to help pass it “at all stages,” which includes the committee stage. Unfortunately for Mr. Goodale, he had to admit the Liberals would force a delay until the following Monday because their agriculture critic, Wayne Easter, wanted to start his weekend early and had already left Ottawa.
 
Today the Agriculture Committee asked the Canadian Wheat Board to release a key study explaining marketing losses on grain sales. Rather than supporting the motion that would have provided accountability and transparency for Western Canadian farmers, Mr. Easter filibustered the motion and derailed the entire committee. The result will delay Bill C-29, the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act, which would have delivered Government-backed credit for Canadian farm families.
 
“If we`re going to debate this motion (to release the CWB report) I can guarantee you folks it`s going to take a long time,” said Mr. Easter. “(Do) you want to get Bill C-29 through the House before spring or not? Because it`s not going to get through today.”
 
 “It’s outrageous for the Liberals to play with the livelihoods of farmers from Prince Edward Island to British Columbia just because Wayne Easter doesn’t believe that the Canadian Wheat Board should be open and accountable,” said Mr. Anderson. “It’s easy to see why rural Canadians consistently reject the Liberals. Canada’s Conservative Government will keep working hard to pass this vital legislation to give Canadian farm families access to the Government-backed credit they need to compete and succeed.”