Mr. Speaker, a Senate committee has travelled to the western provinces to hear the concerns of farmers on Bill C-4.
One farmer stated: “If this bill demonstrates democracy in this country, then we are in deep trouble. At Confederation, would we as Canadians have accepted two-thirds of a say in our destiny?”
Another farmer says that they are scrambling to make ends meet, taking off-farm jobs and juggling crops. They are frustrated that they do not see the wheat board scrambling to do anything other than damage control.
The right to own, use and dispose of private property is one of the key foundations of any democratic society. The wheat board act, as presently constituted, violates this fundamental principle.
Ontario farmers will have an opportunity to export wheat directly into the United States. Denying western farmers the same economic freedoms will only serve to foster a feeling of resentment and division.