HILL DEMANDS GOVERNMENT GET GRAIN MOVING!

October 29, 2002 

OTTAWA – In light of the devastating impact of the Port of Vancouver labour dispute, Jay Hill, Member of Parliament for Prince George - Peace River, demanded action from the federal Minister of Labour by calling for Final Offer Selection Arbitration to resume grain transport in Canada.   

“During the Thanksgiving break, I was helping my brother harvest his canola crop in the Peace River region of our riding.  Unfortunately, he, like many other farmers, cannot deliver their grain to the local elevator because it’s full due to the lockout at the Port of Vancouver,” Hill said in Question Period today. 

“This labour dispute leaves those farmers fortunate enough to have a crop unable to continue harvesting. Mr. Speaker, grain stopped moving through Vancouver on August the 25th. 

“Will the Minister of Labour intercede today on behalf of farmers and impose Final Offer Selection Arbitration to end this lockout?” insisted Hill. 

Hill later stated outside the House, “currently, there are limited facilities for producers to deliver and dry their grain in northern British Columbia.  Farmers should not be denied the opportunity to harvest their crops due to this dispute in Vancouver!”