NUPGE support for wheat board applauded by Goodale

'Ham-fisted tactics' of Harper government unacceptable, says former federal agriculture
and finance minister

Ottawa (20 Feb. 2007) - Ralph Goodale, former Liberal agriculture and finance minister, has written a letter thanking the National Union of Public and General Employees for joining the fight to save the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). The 340,000-member union says workers in all regions should unite in support of the board to support farmers and send a message to the anti-public-sector Harper Conservatives.

In a letter to NUPGE president James Clancy, Goodale, now a senior member of the opposition Liberal Party, said "farmers are the ones who should determine any changes" in the way the board markets Canadian grain, not the government in Ottawa.

"The elections of new CWB producer-directors last year show that a strong majority of farmers share your view," Goodale told Clancy.

"I have always been a strong advocate of the value of the CWB and the voting rights of prairie farmers, and have worked aggressively over the last few months to expose the disturbing actions of Stephen Harper's Conservatives to dismantle the wheat board," he added.

"I assure you I will continue to oppose the destructive direction the Conservatives are taking. The ham-fisted tactics being pursued by the Harper government are totally unacceptable. They make a mockery of Conservative rhetoric about transparency and accountability," Goodale said.

"However, we all need to realize that this government will push very hard - unless and until a strong proportion of farmers tells them in no uncertain terms to 'back off!'"

Meeting Feb. 24 in Regina

The campaign to defend the wheat board is gathering support from organizations across the country.

Adrian Measner, the wheat board president fired by the Harper government for defending the traditional role of the board in Canadian agriculture, is scheduled to speak at a strategy and planning meeting by friends of the board Feb. 24 in Regina. (For additional information, please visit SavemyCWB.ca). NUPGE

More information:
• NUPGE joins campaign to save Canadian Wheat Board
• Harper and the politics of wheat - James Clancy commentary
• Why workers everywhere should support the wheat board
• Conservative tactics on CWB underhanded, says Goodale
• Save My CWB.ca - grass roots campaign