Gerry Ritz: Communist Invader Of Farmer's Privacy

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made his case successfully to keep the mandatory Census of Agriculture, with its lengthy list of detailed questions for farmers and the threat of fines and jail time for failing to co-operate.

Does Gerry Ritz hate freedom? Or farmers? Or both freedom and farmers?

Has Cadmania Already Paid Off?

Maybe.

As I argued a couple of days ago, if the Chuck Cadman scandal remained in the news long enough the Federal Tories would be less likely to force an election over their bid to hobble the Canada Wheat Board.

And, indeed, it looks like Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has backed down.

Asked whether the bill [amendments to The Canada Wheat Board Act] was a confidence motion, Ritz said: "Not at this point. We're keeping our options all open there. We'll work toward whatever it takes."

This is obviously not yet an admission of abject failure, but it is interesting nevertheless that Ritz is now claiming the introduction of the bill is more about symbolism , about "sending a message", than actually doing anything:

"I don't think we physically have to have the bill passed. We just have to have sent the signal that we are going to stay on top of this. Our date is still August 1, 2008 and we will move heaven and earth to make that happen," he said.

All hail the Cadman Scandal.