Ottawa, April 2, 2009 – Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and his coalition partners betrayed Western Canadian farm families today by obstructing legislation to modernize Canada's grain industry. Conservative MP David Anderson, a Saskatchewan grain farmer and Parliamentary Secretary for the Canadian Wheat Board, blasted opposition parties for flip-flopping on their agreement to allow the legislation to go to the Agriculture Committee.

"Michael Ignatieff has once again proved that Liberals don't care about Canadian farmers. They continue to ignore Western Canada," said Anderson. "Western Canadian farmers deserve an opportunity to work with MPs at the Agriculture Committee to modernize our grain industry.

The three Opposition parties joined together Thursday to prevent Bill C-13 from being sent to Committee for amendment and approval. "Its clear that the three coalition partners have once again joined together to thumb their noses at Western Canadians. It's shameful that opposition parties refuse to listen to Western Canadian farmers. It’s pathetic that they are stopping the modernization of the Canada Grain Act."

Bill C-13, an Act to amend the Canada Grain Act, would increase profitability for Western Canadian grain farmers.

Only in Western Canada is there mandatory inward inspection that is ultimately paid for by farmers. Bill C-13 will decrease costs for Western farmers while keeping Canada's high quality grain standards. Without the amendment Western grain farmers are stuck with the extra burden of paying for a system that adds no value to their grain.