THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011
VOL. 89 | NO. 18 | $3.75
COME BACK ROUNDUP | HORSES FROM PASTURE P76
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
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FEDERAL ELECTION | CONSERVATIVE VICTORY
FEDERAL ELECTION | REACTION
At last: Harper gains majority
Changes in store for CWB?
NDP breakthrough | With a long awaited majority, will the Conservative ag agenda change?
Single desk at stake | Conservatives pledge to end monopoly on barley
BY BARRY WILSON OTTAWA BUREAU
Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper achieved his long-cherished goal of leading a majority government May 2 and the implications for rural policy could be profound. He has promised to end the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly for wheat and barley international sales and domestic human consumption sales. He has promised to end the long gun registry. And he has promised an agricultural agenda that includes increased trade emphasis, a new farm program deal with the provinces and more spending on food safety and inspection services. “I think voters obviously sent a message tonight that they want stability,” Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Ron Bonnett said May 2. “It is up to us and the farm lobby to convince the government that our issues matter.” The CFA plans to push the new Conservative government on creating a national food strategy and improving farm support programs. Grain Growers of Canada plans to make sure the Conservatives live up to promises that the CWB monopoly will be eliminated while pushing for more research funding. But first, the Conservatives will revel in their new electoral power. On May 2, Canadian voters sent 167 Conservative MPs to Ottawa, the first majority government elected since 2000 and a Conservative majority after two minorities. But the voter message was much stronger than a mere majority. Canadians fundamentally shook up the political landscape. For the first time in history, the New Democratic Party will be the official opposition with 102 seats.
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OTTAWA BUREAU
Veteran University of Regina political analyst and provincial civil servant Howard Leeson has a succinct response about the impact of the May 2 election of a majority federal Conservative government. “If I was a Canadian Wheat Board director, I’d be packing my bags,” he said when the election results were clear. The Conservatives won a 167 seat majority in the House of Commons with strong support from across the rural Prairies with victories in all rural ridings with CWB farmers. The Conservative platform promised to work with prairie farmers to end the monopoly on barley sales. Rural Conservatives told voters the promise will apply to wheat as well, although there will be no dramatic move. SEE TORIES READY FOR CHANGE, P2
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u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv,:) MAY 5, 2011 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4
Newly re-elected prime minister Stephen Harper addressed party faithfuls in his Calgary Southwest riding Monday night after the Conservatives won a majority government. | WILLIAM DEKAY PHOTO
WESTERN RIDING MAP, ELECTION COVERAGE | PAGE 4, 14
BARRY WILSON COLUMN | PAGE 10
Surviving the wave
Ag leaders react
Saskatchewan Liberal stalwart Ralph Goodale was elected in Wascana for a seventh term with nearly 41 percent of the vote. | Page 5
Keystone Agricultural Producers president Doug Chorney is taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to Canada’s new Conservative majority government. | Page 14
The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Inc. Publisher, Larry Hertz Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240; Registration No. 10676
SEE HARPER WINS MAJORITY, PAGE 2
BY BARRY WILSON