OTTAWA - A young farmer has been thrown out of the visitor's gallery in the House of Commons for a one-man protest over the federal government's decision to end the Canadian Wheat Board's marketing monopoly.
Dean Harder of Lowe Farm, Man., stood in the gallery Friday and held up signs reading, "Save the Single Desk" and "Lies."
Then he shouted at the assembled members of Parliament, who are set to vote Monday on the legislation that would strip the board of its monopoly.
He said the government does not speak for farmers and accused them of using lies and half truths as excuses to kill the wheat board.
He also demanded that farmers be given the right to vote on the fate of the wheat board.
Harder was ushered out of the gallery by security staff.
"Taking away the wheat board is not freedom," Harder said during the protest. "Freedom is not giving control to multi-national companies.
"Take your time on this bill. It is too important to rush."
The wheat board is to be in court Dec. 6 to apply for a judicial review of the government's decision. The marketing agency claims Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is in breach of his statutory duty by failing to hold a vote by farmers before he introduced the legislation.
Ritz has said the federal government was given a mandate to strip the board of its monopoly when voters elected a majority government last May.
Gilbert Ferre, vice-chairman of the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance, said Harder's frustration is understandable.
"We are also very frustrated and angry with the Harper government's unwillingness to listen to farmers or consider in any sort of serious way all the implications of killing our Canadian Wheat Board." he said.
"We are calling on the Senate of Canada to fulfill their duties to Canadians by being the chamber of sober second thought. We expect them to conduct hearings across western Canada so farmers can have their voices heard."
