Here is his letter:
Dear Fellow Farmers and Friends,
Today I made the very difficult decision to resign
effective immediately as the director of District 1
of the Canadian Wheat Board. In a letter to CWB
Chairman Allen Oberg, I expressed my deep
regret in coming to the realization that I can no
longer serve my constituents and Western
Canadian grain farmers in general from within the
organization.
Driven by a lifetime of commitment and passion
for agriculture, I sought a directorship with the
CWB because I wanted to bring about change for
the benefit of farmers. I fully understood the
CWB’s mandate and tried to improve its programs
and services to farmers under that mandate. I saw
many opportunities to provide farmers more
freedom, flexibility and transparency, however,
was in many cases treated as though my ideas
would cause the destruction of the organization.
During my terms as director, I saw the decisions
of many directors driven by hard-line ideology
rather than business acumen. When those
directors continually used pool account money to
justify and support their views for a single desk, I
found this “ideological bullying” unacceptable.
The CWB’s decision this week to launch a legal
challenge against the Federal Government over
the proposed changes to the CWB ACT, when it
is clear to everyone that it will not change the
outcome and would not change the timing of the
government action, is simply wrong. A previous
decision to suspend a director for simply
expressing his opinion about the August
“information meeting” is simply wrong. And the
decision to allow a motion on the table to change
the bylaw requiring a 2/3 majority to remove a
director is simply wrong. Such decisions and other
discussions that have taken place around the
CWB table are not about doing what is best for
commercial farmers—they are the decisions taken
by “ideological bullies.”
What is happening at the CWB today is, in a
word, wrong. To continue to work within the
existing dysfunctional CWB board would be a
disservice to those who voted me for me as their
director. It would also be a disservice to all the
farmers who want change and an option of using
a voluntary CWB.
Furthermore, at this time protecting the single
desk “at all costs”, is in my view, destroying future
opportunities, harming the reputation of the
farmers, demoralizing staff and creating
uncertainty with customers and the industry, all of
which will cost farmers money.
I believe the Government of Canada’s efforts to
change the CWB are in the best interests of
Western Canadian grain producers and I will
support their efforts and the efforts of other
organizations and individuals committed to bring
about positive change for Western Canadian
farmers.
Meanwhile, I thank you for support and
understanding.
I would have done the same thing.
Good for you Henri!
Dear Fellow Farmers and Friends,
Today I made the very difficult decision to resign
effective immediately as the director of District 1
of the Canadian Wheat Board. In a letter to CWB
Chairman Allen Oberg, I expressed my deep
regret in coming to the realization that I can no
longer serve my constituents and Western
Canadian grain farmers in general from within the
organization.
Driven by a lifetime of commitment and passion
for agriculture, I sought a directorship with the
CWB because I wanted to bring about change for
the benefit of farmers. I fully understood the
CWB’s mandate and tried to improve its programs
and services to farmers under that mandate. I saw
many opportunities to provide farmers more
freedom, flexibility and transparency, however,
was in many cases treated as though my ideas
would cause the destruction of the organization.
During my terms as director, I saw the decisions
of many directors driven by hard-line ideology
rather than business acumen. When those
directors continually used pool account money to
justify and support their views for a single desk, I
found this “ideological bullying” unacceptable.
The CWB’s decision this week to launch a legal
challenge against the Federal Government over
the proposed changes to the CWB ACT, when it
is clear to everyone that it will not change the
outcome and would not change the timing of the
government action, is simply wrong. A previous
decision to suspend a director for simply
expressing his opinion about the August
“information meeting” is simply wrong. And the
decision to allow a motion on the table to change
the bylaw requiring a 2/3 majority to remove a
director is simply wrong. Such decisions and other
discussions that have taken place around the
CWB table are not about doing what is best for
commercial farmers—they are the decisions taken
by “ideological bullies.”
What is happening at the CWB today is, in a
word, wrong. To continue to work within the
existing dysfunctional CWB board would be a
disservice to those who voted me for me as their
director. It would also be a disservice to all the
farmers who want change and an option of using
a voluntary CWB.
Furthermore, at this time protecting the single
desk “at all costs”, is in my view, destroying future
opportunities, harming the reputation of the
farmers, demoralizing staff and creating
uncertainty with customers and the industry, all of
which will cost farmers money.
I believe the Government of Canada’s efforts to
change the CWB are in the best interests of
Western Canadian grain producers and I will
support their efforts and the efforts of other
organizations and individuals committed to bring
about positive change for Western Canadian
farmers.
Meanwhile, I thank you for support and
understanding.
I would have done the same thing.
Good for you Henri!
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