The Canadian Wheat Board is key to the nation’s agriculture “brand,” according to federal NDP leadership contender Paul Dewar, and losing that institution will impact the value of the brand.
“It’s not just about the wheat board itself,” he told the Times-Herald. “It’s about the Canadian brand being lost. Because once the wheat is sold to bigger markets in the States, what is Canadian wheat anymore?
“So in fact it’s in a way taking away who we are as Canadians, and certainly as Saskatchewan farmers. It’s the Canadian ink, if you will, being diluted.”
Dewar said it seems the Conservatives are using their majority victory in the last election as an excuse to do whatever they want in government. But he said the ruling party isn’t considering the majority of prairie producers recently had a vote to keep the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopsony status for barley and wheat.
The government intends to remove the monopsony status in August 2012.
“It’s about taking away who we are,” Dewar said.
The Ottawa Centre MP was in Moose Jaw on Wednesday and he quite enjoyed his brief time in the Friendly City while garnering support from local party members for his bid to become Canada’s new Leader of the Opposition.
“It has its own sensibility and pride,” Dewar said about Moose Jaw while out canvassing with local provincial NDP candidates Derek Hassen (Moose Jaw North) and incumbent Deb Higgins (Moose Jaw Wakamow).
Dewar said Moose Jaw and Saskatchewan in general are quite important to someone vying for support to lead the federal NDP, considering the province has between 10,000 to 15,000 party members who can vote for a new leader on March 24, 2012.
“That’s big, because we’re just talking about over 80,000 in the whole country.”
Dewar said it’s also important for a leadership contender to seek support in Saskatchewan, considering it is the province in which the party originated and Saskatchewan still plays a key role for the nation’s socialist party.
“This is our roots as a party.”
According to Dewar, his campaign is being organized with people who are very much connected with the concerns of Saskatchewan residents. He said a lot of people in the province feel the Conservative government is taking them for granted in regards to such issues as the wheat board.
Dewar said the federal NDP’s relationship to Saskatchewan is a priority for him and would be a priority throughout the party’s leadership race.
Registered candidates to become leader include Dewar, Thomas Mulcair, Nathan Cullen, Romeo Saganash, Martin Singh and Brian Topp. For more information on the party, the leadership race and how the new leader will be selected, visit www.ndp.ca.
Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.
