After reading Mr Obergs Blog (posted below my comments) and hearing his endorsement of the Friend of the CWB's Song, I can't help but think the CWB under this leadership is going nowhere fast.
I have always believed there can be a roll for the CWB in a dual Market, but the people in charge seem determined to burn every bridge and and destroy any chance of a future for the CWB.
They have pretty much demonized all the Grain Companies, Railroads and anyone that does not share their view. Hummm.. regardless what the CWB looks like in the future, they need to work with all the people it is insulting right now.
Your Mr. Oberg you can't survive if the CWB looses the single desk. Under real leadership it could have!
Oberg's Blog
Tuesday, August 9, 2011Who’s playing what?
Several weeks ago, the Minister of Agriculture advised elected directors of the CWB to “quit playing silly buggers” and get around to planning how the CWB could be “strong and viable” in an open market. He rejected our request that the government hold a plebiscite on its decision to unilaterally strip our single desk for both wheat and barley, stating he wanted to move quickly ahead on the file and take his political lumps on the issue, as it were, early.
Since then, we’ve heard very little from the Minister. I arrived in Regina yesterday for our first of several meetings with farmers (great meeting, great discussion. Check out coverage here http://www.globalregina.com/meets with farmers talk about board fate/5224873/story.html ).
While I was in Regina, I tuned into Jim Smalley’s noon show on CKRM (www.620ckrm.com) and had the opportunity to hear a bit more from the Minister, who talked to callers on different issues but mostly fielded calls on the CWB. I found it a little disheartening that he offered, as proof that removing the single desk will improve things for farmers, assurances from the railways and grain companies.
In response to a question from someone concerned about access to services for smaller farmers if the CWB is gone, the Minister acknowledged there are arguments both ways on the question, but said the grain companies and railways have told him things will work better without the CWB.
Hmmm. The grain companies and the railways say things will be better, so therefore things will be better? I have to be honest – I think this is letting the fox watch the hen house and pretending it’s public policy.
And in response to a question on where farmers will order producer cars if there is no CWB, the Minister noted the Canadian Grain Commission delivers producer cars, and said if anything, in a post-single desk environment, there will be greater demand for producer cars.
Given that the CGC is the federal agency responsible for ordering producer cars, I’d like to see their analysis on how demand will increase in an open market. I’m especially curious given that today, over 95 per cent of producer cars are loaded with CWB grains. Loading producer cars saves farmers money – up to $1600 per car in reduced elevation and handling charges. These savings will disappear in an open market. Producer cars are available on canola shipments, but few farmers use them because they don’t generate any savings. So I can’t see how demand for producer cars will increase in an open market, but I would welcome the Minister or one of his officials explaining it to me.
I might even suggest the Minister stop playing politics with our bottom line. Maybe it is time to move beyond the sound bites and start listening to farmers – all farmers, including those who have different views – instead of just the grain companies and railways.
In the meantime, I’d like to hear from as many of you as possible at the farmer meetings we’re holding across the Prairies this week and next – we’re at the Saskatoon Inn at 7 p.m. tonight, for example. (You can find the complete list here: http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/hot/decision/meetings/)
I have always believed there can be a roll for the CWB in a dual Market, but the people in charge seem determined to burn every bridge and and destroy any chance of a future for the CWB.
They have pretty much demonized all the Grain Companies, Railroads and anyone that does not share their view. Hummm.. regardless what the CWB looks like in the future, they need to work with all the people it is insulting right now.
Your Mr. Oberg you can't survive if the CWB looses the single desk. Under real leadership it could have!
Oberg's Blog
Tuesday, August 9, 2011Who’s playing what?
Several weeks ago, the Minister of Agriculture advised elected directors of the CWB to “quit playing silly buggers” and get around to planning how the CWB could be “strong and viable” in an open market. He rejected our request that the government hold a plebiscite on its decision to unilaterally strip our single desk for both wheat and barley, stating he wanted to move quickly ahead on the file and take his political lumps on the issue, as it were, early.
Since then, we’ve heard very little from the Minister. I arrived in Regina yesterday for our first of several meetings with farmers (great meeting, great discussion. Check out coverage here http://www.globalregina.com/meets with farmers talk about board fate/5224873/story.html ).
While I was in Regina, I tuned into Jim Smalley’s noon show on CKRM (www.620ckrm.com) and had the opportunity to hear a bit more from the Minister, who talked to callers on different issues but mostly fielded calls on the CWB. I found it a little disheartening that he offered, as proof that removing the single desk will improve things for farmers, assurances from the railways and grain companies.
In response to a question from someone concerned about access to services for smaller farmers if the CWB is gone, the Minister acknowledged there are arguments both ways on the question, but said the grain companies and railways have told him things will work better without the CWB.
Hmmm. The grain companies and the railways say things will be better, so therefore things will be better? I have to be honest – I think this is letting the fox watch the hen house and pretending it’s public policy.
And in response to a question on where farmers will order producer cars if there is no CWB, the Minister noted the Canadian Grain Commission delivers producer cars, and said if anything, in a post-single desk environment, there will be greater demand for producer cars.
Given that the CGC is the federal agency responsible for ordering producer cars, I’d like to see their analysis on how demand will increase in an open market. I’m especially curious given that today, over 95 per cent of producer cars are loaded with CWB grains. Loading producer cars saves farmers money – up to $1600 per car in reduced elevation and handling charges. These savings will disappear in an open market. Producer cars are available on canola shipments, but few farmers use them because they don’t generate any savings. So I can’t see how demand for producer cars will increase in an open market, but I would welcome the Minister or one of his officials explaining it to me.
I might even suggest the Minister stop playing politics with our bottom line. Maybe it is time to move beyond the sound bites and start listening to farmers – all farmers, including those who have different views – instead of just the grain companies and railways.
In the meantime, I’d like to hear from as many of you as possible at the farmer meetings we’re holding across the Prairies this week and next – we’re at the Saskatoon Inn at 7 p.m. tonight, for example. (You can find the complete list here: http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/hot/decision/meetings/)
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