CWB tendering works for farmers

[charliep]

I thought I had better clarify that I don't think having grain companies lower tariffs in the tendering process is a bad thing. Grain companies are big boys and can make decisions that are in their best interest. Longer term, the grain handling system has to be allowed operate in a very efficient and low cost manner. Profit for grain companies is not a bad thing provided they are efficient and providing good service. The process also has to make sure we are doing the best job possible in meeting customer requirements (both quality and timing).

A recent conference I attended has a speaker who made the comment that the CWB is taking more of an advocacy role on behalf of farmers in dealing with grain companies and others since the change in structure. Is this an appropriate role for the CWB to take?

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie,

My issue with CWB and its role is the specific powers legislation gives them and the lack of transparent accountability the CWB has.

One saftey government has is the auditor general scrutinizing yearly the Canadian governments activities.

Unfortunately the CWB is not part of this accountable process.

It is true the CWB was invited by the Board of Directors to look at 1999-00, but the Minister Responsible and CWB Directors will only release information that they want to, not the whole report, if there is damageing discoveries the auditor general makes.

There is also a big difference between being Invited in by the CWB, rather than having the legal right to scritinize CWB operations on a yearly basis, and reporting back to parliament the results.

Please show me an accountable trustworthy transparent process that proves the CWB is both independant and fair in both the tendering and rail car allocation system.

I have not seen anything that protects CWB employees from the temptation of being drawn into bribery or payoff scheemes.

If there is an independant transparent process that gives this protection, could the CWB state it and how it would protect the integrity of the system?

The same goes for the process of buy-back and sales that are contigent on export licensing!

Where is the process that proves the CWB is trustworthy?

[TOM4CWB]

thalpenny,

I asked a local elevator person what could assure me that Really Cheap CWB tenders were not being rewarded in return by cheap sale prices to grain going into the US or other export destinations.

A red face and no reply was the answer, as from everything the CWB Act and Regulations state, there are no safegaurds either for the CWB sales department or elevator company staff.

In many parts of the world, bribery and payoffs are the normal course of business, as CWB staff well know.

This however is no excuse to have this corrupt method of doing business in Canada, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COULD BE A REASONABLE EXPLANATION OF WHY WE RECEIVE LESS FOR OUR WHEAT AND BARLEY THAN OUR NEIGHBOURS THAT FARM JUST SOUTH OF US!!!!

The saying that perception is reality is well worn by CWB spin masters, and I really would like to see a transparent and accountable system that would allow farmers in the designated area to truly trust the CWB.

Could this even be a possibility thalpenny???