Mr. Speaker, I too am very pleased to be taking part in this historic debate on Bill C-4, the amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board Act, this afternoon. Before I talk about the preamble before us, Motion No. 1, I will respond to the comments made by the parliamentary secretary about how privileged members who serve on the committee should feel for the ability to come to the House and propose amendments since the bill was referred to committee prior to second reading.
I would take more comfort in that if I had not felt as a member of the standing committee that there was a rush to judgment throughout the entire process. I do not recall specifically how many groups appeared before the committee, but they were grouped in threes and fours so that we could get through the bill in a matter of two or three weeks. The amendments were rushed through in one session. It was not a very effective way to consider a bill of this magnitude which will have a long lasting impact on Canadian grain producers.
With respect to the preamble put forward by the hon. member for Yorkton—Melville, he said that it is not motherhood. I think that there is a lot of mom and apple pie in it. However, I also think that there is nothing wrong with us saying that in a preamble, as my colleague from the Bloc Quebecois articulated a few moments ago.
The New Democratic Party and the CCF before it have always been very strong supporters of the Canadian Wheat Board and we continue to be strong supporters of it. What is wrong with insisting that there be a preamble that makes it very clear? The motion which is before us does that. It states what the vision and mission of the Canadian Wheat Board is to be.
Those vision and mission statements are very much in vogue these days. We see corporations and other groups doing it. What is wrong with such a statement being in the preamble about what it is that the Canadian Wheat Board is all about? It is a reference point that producers and others can look to when seeking guidance or when they have concerns.
Having said that, New Democrats believe that the wheat board has been a very good marketer for Canadian grain producers over the years. We see absolutely nothing illogical about having this as the preamble and we will be supporting this particular motion when it comes to a vote.