The current Harper Conservative government is not being accountable to Canadians, once again. Harper's ministers continue to blatantly distribute information that is not factual. Take for example the recent comments by Gerry Ritz the Minister of Agriculture. He actually stated in a public setting that Western Grain farmers were receiving half of what their colleagues in the East were receiving. This is factually incorrect and a blatant attempt to mislead the public. The facts speak for themselves - I ask you to read the following release and decide for yourself what the truth is.
Will the Minister apologize?
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz Misleading Parliament on Wheat Prices
March 12, 2008
http://www.liberal.ca/story_13715_e.aspx
OTTAWA – Conservative Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is misleading Parliament about wheat pricing in an effort to undermine the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), Liberal Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter said today.
“On March 10, 2008, the Minister stated that producers in PEI were receiving $600 per tonne for milling wheat while those in Saskatchewan under the Canadian Wheat Board were receiving ‘half that,’” said Mr. Easter.
“This statement is blatantly false. Under the CWB’s Basis Price Contract Program, farmers could have availed themselves of prices ranging above $700 per tonne in the month of February.”
Mr. Easter pointed out that as the Minister responsible for the Wheat Board, Mr. Ritz has access to this information and therefore has a duty to be honest about the pricing programs of the CWB.
“Unfortunately, just like his fellow Conservative MPs, the Minister isn’t interested in letting the facts get in the way of his ideological quest to undermine the Canadian Wheat Board,” he said.
“Mr. Ritz is just as wrong on this issue as he is in believing that the majority of farmers in Western Canada support the elimination of the Wheat Board. At a minimum, the Minister owes western grain farmers and the Canadian Wheat Board an apology.”
Signed,
Susan Whelan
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