The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) is preparing for another plebiscite with it’s monopoly in jeopardy.
The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) met with federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz June 29 in hopes the CWB will work with the government to restructure itself as a regular market player. GGC President Steven Vandervalk said a plebiscite on retaining the wheat board is not a good use of time or resources.
“We just had an election and the federal government was elected to govern and is going to govern and they are going to implement their long-standing commitment to marketing choice,” said Richard Phillips, GGC’s executive director. “These changes are going to happen so the Wheat Board should not squander time, resources and good will.
Farmers are worth the effort to make this transition. And quite frankly, their own employees are worth it too.”
The CWB expressed surprise when it heard the government didn’t want to issue a plebiscite on the future of the board.
“We’re talking about the future of an organization that’s been part and parcel of the grain industry for 75 years,” said Oberg. “The changes that are being suggested are irreversible. If that doesn’t justify a plebiscite, I don’t know what would.”
In addition, Oberg said other options the CWB has explored, in the event of an open system, all result in delivering “less value to the producers.”
But GGC insists the CWB isn’t giving its own organization a fair shake at competing for business in an open market.
“The CWB has a respected worldwide brand, they have contacts around the world, they have experienced people in both rail and ocean freight, and they have front-line staff who work with farmers every day,” said Vandervalk.
Wild Rose MP Blake Richards supports choice for Canadian farmers.
“I want to see farmers have as many options as they can,” said Richards. “I think CWB can be that.”
The timeline of Aug. 1, 2012 is a reasonable date for the CWB to restructure its operations and the organization has many assets such as a large index of clients and years of experience, Richards added.
Farmers will have ballots in their hand by mid-July and a radio and print advertising campaign on the plebiscite will begin shortly as well, according to Oberg.
“The CWB really is the single best (option) that gives farmers power in the marketplace,” Oberg said. “It gives them economic power and it also gives them political power.”
