Mr. Speaker, after three years of waiting farmers now see the agriculture minister's totally inadequate blueprint for changes to the Canadian Wheat Board.
Farmers wanted a more accountable, flexible and transparent wheat board, one they could govern and call their own. Instead, the minister is proposing a powerless, partially elected board where the minister calls the shots.
Ontario wheat boards have had their own farmers direct the boards for many years and, believe it or not, have been able to manage their own affairs.
Why does the minister show such blatant disregard and lack of respect for Canadian farmers by not proposing that they run their own wheat board?