That ship has sailed

The Ritz/Raitt command to the railways to move a million tonnes of grain a week or else is full of irony.  It will not change the fact the prairie crop has been stranded which has pushed farm prices down by half.  It was perfectly predicable and the government was certainly warned. Since there will also be a huge carryover of old crop into the new crop year that also means prices for western...

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Where was Senators’ due process when they killed the Wheat Board?

Most Canadians have come to expect a certain level of hypocrisy from their politicians, but the current Senate scandal involving Duffy, Wallin, and Brazeau, three of the many Harper-appointed Senators have exposed this hypocrisy in spades. Led by Conservative Senator Don Plett some Conservative Senators have suddenly become aware of the importance of due process.  Conservative Senator Hugh Segal...

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To See Ourselves

The great poet Robbie Burns once observed that he wished some power would give us the gift to see ourselves as others see us. A couple of weeks ago political blogger and long time Alberta reporter David Climenhaga did just that when he wrote a column   (Grass crime no! Grain crime yes! The inconsistencies of Prime Minister Harper!)  on the hypocrisy of Stephen Harper being tough on crime,...

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Poor hospitality

If Wallin showed up unannounced at any farm in Saskatchewan chances are she would be invited in for a cup of coffee. Yet when Saskatchewan farmers were at her office doorstep for three weeks, she would not extend that same courtesy.

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Producer cars withering

Producer cars withering – farm group calls for open access to terminal elevators (Regina, July 16, 2013) Recent numbers obtained by the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance (CWBA) show that producer car shipments are down by almost 40% from last year.*  “This means farmers have lost at least five million dollars ” noted Bill Gehl, chairperson of the CWBA. “Clearly the private sector is...

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