Crow?

[agstar77]

We are facing thousands of km to port, thus the fight to cross the U.S. border with wheat and the elimination of the CWB. Shorter distance to a lucrative market, but only for a chosen few.

[Fransisco]

Everyone will benefit from a voluntary wheat board. Everyone.

[RShields]

One thing maybe not emphasized enough in t
he explanations was the lack of movement. The railways had no interest in moving grain as the more they moved the more they lost. They never dedicated any capital expansion to it. No money, no service.
Some rail lines never ran a train all winter. Elevator agents went to work for months at a time to watch over full bins that the CWB paid storage on.
The grain gathering system in those days made communism look a way over on the right.

[agstar77]

And if you are wrong, oh I forgot you are never wrong. I will admit I could be wrong and life will be so much better. The point is there is no turning back, just like the crow.

[TOM4CWB]

Agstar77,

The only constant in our lives... is change!

You may as well decide to be Happy!

Certainly being grumpy... and trying to push the rope of life...up the road of time... will be frustrating!

Pull the rope... this is an opportunity!

I know... I can see a noose being tied ... just for me...

[Fransisco]

I can be wrong. But not on this wheat board issue. The evidence is too overwhelming. We will all be much better off in a competitive open market.

[Braveheart]

Mallee, the Crowsnest Past Freight Rate was gone in the early 1980s. It was so out of wack with modern costs of doing business that the railways weren't reinvesting in motive power, cars, railbeds or anything grain related. Forget about all the land and mineral grant bs and perpituity bs, it was sold off and was only ever offered to help build the most expensive transcontinental rr in the world.

In the 1980s the "Crow" became the Western Grain Transportation Act. It was somewhat like an annuity. it was a freight subsidy that began to decline over time. It would run to zero eventually.

The big argument at the time and after in fact to this day was the method of payment. The question was, pay it to farmers or pay it to the railways? Some farmers, those conned by the three prairie wheat pools, and anyone with a twisted socialist leaning, wanted it paid to the railways. Yes, some farmers wanted it paid to railways!

The livestock industry and free enterprise farmers wanted the payment to go to farmers. Agriculture would have looked much different if it had.

Even the Prime Minister at the time, Liberal Pierre Trudeau conceded shortly afterwards that it was mistake to pay the railways.

Just an example of how insane it was is here. eg.: A train of malt barley bound for a US destination, marshalled in Winnipeg, would proceed all the way to Thunder Bay. It would then turn around and come back to Winnipeg before heading south to destination. According to the act the grain had to touch water (export) before the subsidy would apply. What a waste. Thanks idiots (SWP, Man and Alberta Pool, NFU et al).

[agstar77]

So you have proof that Viterra and ADM will sell your grain for more than Australian grain. I am looking forward to your proof.

[Fransisco]

I have proof that the wheat board has been selling it for less. I and many others have been showing you that proof for years already on this forum.

[Braveheart]

Agstar, the thing is in a competitive marketplace Fransisco doesn't need proof. If Franny doesn't like what Viterra or ADM offer he can simply deal with someone else. There will be transparency. Everyone's cash price will be on the table. Basis levels will be known. Competition is what keeps everyone honest.

That's what's missing from the CWB. Agstar, you might accept the "trust us" we're here for you from the board, but I need the discipline of the open market so I choose who I trust or not.