Hoback mum on potash decision

paNOW Staff

Member of Parliament for Prince Albert, Randy Hoback, is commenting on the potash decision, but only to say he must remain quiet until it becomes final.
Industry Minister, Tony Clement, rejected BHP Billiton's takeover bid for Saskatchewan’s Potash Corp this week when he said the bid did not present a net benefit to Canada.
The reasons for the decision were not given.
Under the Investment Canada Act, BHP has 30 days to revise its bid before the rejection becomes final.
Hoback said, it’s the main reason why he and his other caucus colleagues must remain neutral.
“We have to be so careful here on this file because what we say has a direct impact on what could happen,” said Hoback in a phone interview with paNOW.
Although forbidden from expressing his opinion, Hoback said he backs the minister’s decision.
“I support the minister and his decision. There’s 13 MPs that were here talking a lot about potash to different people trying to get all the facts, trying to get a really good understanding what the issues were,” he said.
Hoback said, like the gun registry, potash touched a nerve with the people in his riding.
“All I can say is constituents were fairly vocal to me about what they wanted to see done,”
“I’d love to say a lot more, but I just can’t … at this point,” said Hoback.
bbosker@paNOW.com