Mr. Speaker, for 60 years the wheat board as a crown agency has done an admirable job for farmers, for all farmers, those with small farms, those with large farms. Studies show that each year farmers make $265 million more selling wheat through the wheat board than they would selling to the private grain trade.
It is the best grain marketing organization in the world. The wheat board has been able to get good prices and returns the profit to farmers rather than having it line the pockets of private grain graders. The wheat board is a $6 billion industry and certain corporate interests would love to get their hands on it. It is because of that that we see the Reform Party and its business friends trying to abolish the wheat board.
The Reform, like the Liberals, want a winner take all economy and they want to get there a whole lot faster. To this end we have seen the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange and Cargill rally behind the position or more likely lobby that position. We see the National Citizens' Coalition attacking the integrity of the wheat board. It is no surprise that a former Reform MP, Stephen Harper, is leading that charge.
Producers support the wheat board. It has ensured stability in their interest. Statements made in the past by Reform members compared life in Canada under the wheat board to life in the former Soviet Union. They call Canada a police state because we have a wheat board. These remarks only prove that Reform members are capable of writing for the tabloids. These remarks only prove that Reform is capable of writing for the tabloids. These remarks are extremist rhetoric and we have listened to a whole lot of it. They do not accurately reflect the work and actions of the wheat board.
The Reform Party's agriculture critic in the last Parliament is not with us today. He came from the riding of Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar which is a fairly large farming area. I suggest his party's stance on the wheat board is one of the main reasons he is not here. The majority of the farmers do not support Reform's position on the wheat board.
There is no question that producers are not happy with the government's amendments to the act. There is no question that more accountability and transparency are wanted. The producers, however, do not want to throw the baby out with the bath water. They want the Canadian Wheat Board. If this government seriously wants support for the changes it must ensure access to information and it must ensure that there is accountability. Its failure to do this again leaves people questioning high paid appointments and patronage. This only taints the Canadian Wheat Board.