Tag Archives: Farmer

Supreme Court sides with Conservative Party against price-fixing monopoly

Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Story here from the Vancouver Sun. (H/T Andrew)

Excerpt:

The Canadian Wheat Board cannot spend money on advocacy to protect its monopoly, following a Supreme Court of Canada decision Thursday against hearing an appeal from the Winnipeg-based agency, which asserts that it has been silenced by the Conservative government.

Without giving reasons, the high court declined the appeal application to a Federal Court of Appeal ruling that sided with the federal government in its 2006 order from then-agriculture minister Chuck Strahl for the board to refrain from spending its money on lobbying.

[…]The federal Conservatives are seeking to end the board’s monopoly, which is controlled by farmers. The monopoly makes the agency one of the world’s biggest exporters of wheat and barley.

The board maintains that the monopoly ensures farmers receive the best prices for their grain, but the federal government, along with some farmers, say that they would be better off in a free market, selling their products on their own.

Conservatives are for a free market and competition, because we believe that it is the best way for consumers to get a low price and high quality. The proper role of government is to ensure that no organization or business enjoys monopoly status due to the government insulating them from competition. The Canadian Wheat Board is just one option, but farmers should have other choices to sell their product.

Capitalism is opposed to monopolies and it is the proper role of government to make sure that no government policy is set up to favor one corporation over any competitor. Let the farmers choose what is best for them. Choice and competition.

Round-up of scary stories about leftists gone wild

These were all  sent to me by ECM, and are too good to pass up!

Environmentalists shut off water to farmers to save tiny fish

Excerpt:

This farmland that has seen their water supply shut off supplies half of America’s vegetables. This impacts over 38 million people. And these farmers are now unable to feed their families, unable to sell their crops, and finding themselves in food lines. They’re still paying water bills, but the water has been shut off. And for what? To keep a three-inch fish alive? Since when is a tiny fish more important than feeding America’s families?

Democrats want to expand Community Reinvestment Act

Excerpt:

A number of experts believe that aggressive enforcement of the 1970s-era Community Reinvestment Act contributed to the mortgage meltdown, and thus to the greater financial crisis, by requiring financial institutions to lend to unqualified borrowers. Now, the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives is responding to that situation by proposing to expand the scope and power of the Community Reinvestment Act.

This morning House Financial Services Committee chairman Rep. Barney Frank held a hearing on H.R. 1479, the “Community Reinvestment Modernization Act of 2009.” The bill’s purpose is “to close the wealth gap in the United States” by increasing “home ownership and small business ownership for low- and moderate-income borrowers and persons of color.” It would extend CRA’s strict lending requirements to non-bank institutions like credit unions, insurance companies, and mortgage lenders. It would also make CRA more explicitly race-based by requiring CRA standards to be applied to minorities, regardless of income, going beyond earlier requirements that applied solely to low- and moderate-income areas.

Is Obama planning an amnesty to give illegal immigrants health care?

Excerpt:

President Obama said this week that his health care plan won’t cover illegal immigrants, but argued that’s all the more reason to legalize them and ensure they eventually do get coverage.

He also staked out a position that anyone in the country legally should be covered – a major break with the 1996 welfare reform bill, which limited most federal public assistance programs only to citizens and longtime immigrants.

Man faces jail for hurting burglar who threatens his family (Link FIXED!)

Excerpt:

A millionaire businessman is facing jail for attacking a career criminal who had held his family hostage at knifepoint.

Munir Hussain, 52, was told he would be killed when three raiders invaded his home.

Obama removed political content from speech to students

Excerpt:

When conservatives complained that President Obama intended to indoctrinate children with his school speech, liberals howled with mock indignation.

But if the liberal Washington Post is to be believed (admittedly a risky proposition), conservatives had good reason to worry.

ECM sent some even better stories about marriage, parenting and courtship, but I’m keeping those for the weekend! They’re awesome!