Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I speak this afternoon to Bill C-4, an act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts.
The Liberal government headed by the Prime Minister, the member for Saint-Maurice, thought that a slight revamping of the more than 60-year-old Canadian Wheat Board, a body viewed with very mixed feelings by grain producers themselves, it might be added, would be a good idea. Discontent in the three western provinces and in the Peace River area was such that producers were on the verge of signing a general petition calling for nothing less than the total abolition of the board.
So, 18 months ago, the minister responsible for the board, a western minister of course, tabled amendments in the form of Bill C-72. We in this House devoted much effort to improving this bill. But because of this government's lack of foresight, we are now, to all intents and purposes, back at square one with Bill C-4.
My colleague in the Reform Party, the member for Yorkton—Melville, is suggesting a preamble to Bill C-4 that I feel I must approve. I will tell you why. When a bill seems to be good, there is no need to shy away from saying so. What interests me most in the motion put forward by the hon. member from the Reform Party, is the preamble saying that agriculture plays a vital role in Canada and especially in the three western provinces and the Peace River region. Do you object to that, Mr. Speaker? You agree with me that it is no crime to include that in the preamble to the bill.
The interesting thing is that this organization, the Canadian Wheat Board, has an important effect on grain producers and must, accordingly, have as its object and first priority the securing of the very best financial return for them. The Canadian Wheat Board will have to be accountable to the grain producers for its performance.
Mr. Speaker, can you look me in the eye and say that you object to the Canadian Wheat Board making every effort to obtain the best prices for our grain producers? The Liberal government objects to having this in a preamble to the bill. It makes no bloody sense. Worse yet, they are going to ask the Canadian Wheat Board to account to grain producers for its actions.
The minister responsible is objecting. I fail to see why. Bill C-4 does have good intentions. For instance, there is at least some attempt to democratize the administration of the Canadian Wheat Board, by having 10—not enough in my opinion, but at least this is a first step in the right direction—of the 15 directors elected by universal suffrage by the grain producers. That is a step forward.
In case it has been forgotten, there used to be five commissioners, and all five were appointed by the governor in council. These were generally five patronage appointments, not necessarily five truly competent administrators. When the colour of the government in power was blue, Conservatives were appointed. Now, since it is red, we have just had the announcement of a series of Department of Agriculture appointments, and they are all Liberals. One was a bag man, one the chief organizer, one had worked hard to get his boss, the Prime Minister, elected as leader of his party. You will recall this, Mr. Speaker, since you supported him too and got a little reward for it, since you are now seated in the chair.
Bill C-4 is an attempt to change the Canadian Wheat Board Act for the better—at least I hope it is for the better, and the government is sincere—for the benefit of grain producers. So why fear it?
I have just been listening to the words of the Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board. He said they were afraid they would have to tie the hands of the directors of the Canadian Wheat Board. Is it a crime to tie their hands and require them to obtain a better price? I do not think so. Given that the board will be dealing with $6 billion or $7 billion, even a fraction of 1% will mean a better price. A fraction of 1% of $7 billion means many many millions of dollars that the board could come up with and put into the pockets of producers.
I invite my colleagues in the government to have another look at the proposed preamble. It is not because it was introduced by the Bloc Quebecois that it is no good. It looks like the Liberals think that if it is not their idea it is not good.
I do not want to have to reread the main part of this preamble, but the part that interests me, once again, is the part that would oblige the Canadian Wheat Board to obtain the best possible return on grain. The board should also be accountable for its performance.
So, a vote against this motion, the first on Bill C-4, indicates a lack of transparency and a fear of working effectively for western grain producers.