Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak on this bill today.
Unlike my very informed colleagues from Vegreville, from Kindersley-Lloydminster, from Yorkton-Melville, from Peace River and from Lisgar-Marquette, I admit I do not have the expertise that they have when it comes to the operation of the wheat board and the history of the wheat board. But in reading over this bill there is one thing I can do: I can smell a rat. There is something that stinks in this bill and I want to talk about those two clauses.
There is something that this minister is trying to cover up before it happens and that is section 3.93(3) where it talks about the directors, the officers and employees of the wheat board not liable for a breach of duty under subsection (1) or (2) with regard to the financial statements, with regard to the operation of the wheat board and with regard to lawyers reports, accountants reports, engineer appraisers reports, all sources that could show the wheat board up for what it is.
What is the minister of agriculture afraid will come out? What does the Liberal minister of agriculture fear so much that he would take the time to put in a clause like this to protect the employees of the wheat board? What is coming down the pike? What does the minister of agriculture know that Canadians and Canadian farmers do not know? Is there something going on there? Is there mismanagement? Is there corruption? Is there criminal activity? One can only assume that could be a possibility when looking at the clauses that have been put in here. What is the minister anticipating?
Section 3.94 stinks like a barn as well: "The Corporation shall indemnify a present or former director, officer or employee of the Corporation or person who acts or acted at the request of the Corporation, and their heirs"-they cover them all-"and legal representatives, against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment"-sounds a little strange-"that are reasonably incurred by them in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which they are a party by reason of being or having been a director, officer, employee or person" employed by the wheat board.
What is the minister expecting to come down the tube that would justify putting in a clause like this which gives such blanket protection to any director, officer or former employee of the wheat board? It mentions criminal or civil charges.
One has to suspect that the people who are out there taking a good look at the Canadian Wheat Board operation may be getting close to something. Is that the case?
We just heard the Liberal member talk about how good the wheat board is. If the wheat board is so good, if it is doing such a wonderful job for Canadian farmers I would like to ask a question of the member, but I cannot of course. Maybe I will get a reply some time. If the board is so good, why is the board not doing things like putting Ontario corn under the wheat board operation? Corn can be used for food or for feed, much the same as barley can. So why has the Canadian Wheat Board not brought corn into the operations of the wheat board? One wonders exactly what direction the board is taking.
I want to stay on this blanket protection that the minister of agriculture in this bill is giving to all the directors, officers and employees who were ever associated with the wheat board. One only has to say that something stinks in this bill. Is it because the minister of agriculture fears that something will stink in the Canadian Wheat Board? Is that why he has tried to give it such immunity and protection in the bill?