Review of the CWB Election - Kevin Bender, WCWGA

[charliep]

Oops. Bob Treadway (not Treadwell).

[TOM4CWB]

Fransisco,

Goodale set up the Election process... NOT the CWB.

The election is as trustworthy as MNP... which I would respectfully suggest that the outcome is 99 percent reflective of the intent of the CWB Act and the voters who voted in this 2010 election.

There is no change to the election process without Ottawa changing the CWB regulations.

If we need to clean up who has a permit book... and the many landmines that issue would highlight... I would want a bullet proof combine, truck, and tractor before I entered that battlefield. This should however... be done... to have a fair election process.

Then there is the redistribution of Districts to retain a democratic voice for each voter... so we do not have a large voter discrepancy between Districts.

[stubblejumper]

the point of the Star Phoenix editorial was if the majority of producers wanted change all they had to do was vote.

[charliep]

by way of clarity, producers has to be changed to CWB permit book holders. change also has to be defined in terms of single desk. Will note change is a reality of the new world - will note the change to policy with the implementation of a 200 % epo for feed wheat. I note you avoid comments on CWB operations but you have to admit this was significant.

[Fransisco]

wd9 we disagree on the significance of the election, you haven't changed my mind and I obviously haven't changed yours.

But you didn't answer my question so I'll ask it again. Do you think that the Director elections which have been set up by the CWB, are run by the CWB, and are policed by the CWB are fair and impartial? Do you think that maybe, just maybe, the boards own self interest finds its way into the process?

Tom MNP is not an independent arms length operator. They get all of their marching orders from the board. The board tells them what to do and they do it. They have no independent power or authority in these elections. They do the paperwork thats it.

[wd9]

Francisco, no i don't think so. Everyone who sells wheat gets a vote. Whether it is 1 bushel or a million. The election discussion has happened on here before, vote weight by wheat amount or by individual farmers regardless of how much you deliver. If farmers were shareholders in the CWB then it would be easy. But we don't. So that method is out too.

I think it would be more fair and less opportunity to shift votes using 1 farmer 1 vote then 1 tonne 1 vote.

|i hope this answers your q.

Did anyone who is not for single desk not get a ballot? If no one does, then i guess the opportunity to vote is there and its fair.

[Fransisco]

Well then I guess we'll have to disagree on that one as well. First off I don't think these things should be up for vote to begin with. But since they are I don't think the current permit book based voting system is fair, nor do I believe that they are being run in an impartial manner.

[wd9]

So what is a fair system?

[wd9]

Fran, i also agree there is a tremendous significance on the election. Even more significant is the outcome. Do we agree on that?

[riders2010]

I actually have changed my mind and don't think it should be by vote either, it's a crop we grow we should just be able to do what we want. Therefore gov needs to get at it, but they won't. And since there is a vote 1 person 1 vote, if we head down the I got so many bushels so I want more votes, should we give more votes to people that have more money in a general election? No What if you have had 2 or 3 shit crop years compared to someone else?

[TOM4CWB]

Stubble,

Everyone on this thread will have a vote.

We will vote to see if you... Stubble... must pay our CWB buybacks over the next 5 years to market outside the CWB 'single desk'.

How would you react... if the Sheriff came and confiscated your farm equipment to pay for our marketing costs?

I have neighbours that went broke because of CWB marketing. They got totalled by the CWB and your 'good will' single desk cost them their farm.

Don't give me this song and dance Stubble... folks are going broke on $4.00 #1 Durum... and $4.40 #1CWRS.

This is a crime... and to force farmers to continue to pay 'blood money' to support the corrupt pooling system is simply absurd.

Rant ends.

[Fransisco]

So what is a fair system?

To me the only truly fair system is a voluntary wheat board.

Baring that there needs to be some kind of weighting of the ballots either based on acres or tonnage. One man, one vote is for electing governments. The wheat board is not a government, its supposed to be a business. And in a business those with more skin in the game have more say. Right now we've got people with no skin in the game who get to vote.

Baring all of that the least they could do is have an actual independent body make up the voters list, run and police the election. In the way that elections Canada currently operates.