These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Jailed Farmers
Mr. David Anderson (Cypress Hills—Grasslands, Canadian Alliance):
Mr. Speaker, seven days ago the government was eager to lock up prairie
farmers because they sold their own grain. They are still in jail. Yet the
minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board has been aware for some
time that the board is operating illegally by charging the cost of export
licences to prairie farmers.
Could he tell us why he locks up prairie farmers but takes no action
against the Wheat Board when it breaks the law?
Hon. Ralph Goodale (Minister of Public Works and Government Services,
Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board and Federal Interlocutor
for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I would remind
the hon. member and all hon. members that any conduct inconsistent with a
statute of Canada or a regulation of Canada is subject to prosecution.
Quite frankly, if the gentleman has any information that ought to be
brought to the attention of the law officers of the Crown, rather than
grandstanding, I invite him to do it.
Mr. David Anderson (Cypress Hills—Grasslands, Canadian Alliance):
Mr. Speaker, the minister received the information two weeks ago. He
created the law that jailed these farmers. He insisted that the farmers go
to jail. He has kept farmers in jail for the last week. Why is he so eager
to jail farmers and so reluctant to enforce the law when it applies to his
own department?
Hon. Ralph Goodale (Minister of Public Works and Government Services,
Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board and Federal Interlocutor
for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the
correspondence that was first referred to in the House by the member for
Yorkton—Melville has in fact been referred to officials and law officers
to determine if there is any fact there that merits any further inquiry.
I would also point out to the hon. gentleman, in respect of the farmers
who were protesting by means of the conduct which he has referred to, that
they had options and alternatives. They themselves have said that they
chose this option.
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