CWB wants to import CHEAP EU Feed Grain?

[TOM4CWB]

Flatbroke;

I hope one of the changes that could take place with the CWB, is that it would become a Co-operative, and I would have the opportunity to become a member, or not, depending on how accountable it became to it's members.

The biggest problem I see with the CWB, is the sales timing issue, with the sales department of the CWB loosing it's real function, to pool grain prices from throughout the year.

A average pool price that delivers below average prices is not at all helpful as a marketing tool.

Being forced to partake in a poorly administrated pool, under threat of being thrown in Jail (as some are already booked for Oct. 31, 02) creates political prisioners, and indeed is a shamefull way to treat any person who lives in a free and democratic nation.

If we need cashflow in the fall, we have cash advances, and need not sell at harvest lows, if they in fact do exist in the Canadian wheat and barley markets.

The CWB democracy issue is a red herring.

Without respect for each others priviledge to be free and to make individual decisions, we could have a vote to make anyone a slave, and to confiscate their assets, in order to make the majority who voted rich... which of course is not the intent of a free and democratic society.

Yet this is exactly what the present CWB board of directors/federal government is doing... making certain "designated area" slaves, confiscating their assets, and even throwing them in jail for objecting.

Change will occur, but will the CWB survive???

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result each time...

[parsley]

Good Morning flatbroke,

Thanks for the response, because at least we can have a normal conversation...... just like we're having morning coffee at the Flatterbroking Coffee Shop!

Your response only deals with 'Why I like single desk" instead of answering my questions. Let's condense what you have shared...
1.Marketing has its' pitfalls and
2. Grandad warned us about life without the Board.

#1...simply put, the seedgrowers seem to manage quite well, applying for export licenses, being granted export licenses and exporting. I don't see them lobbying as a group to have their seed business earnings pooled through the Board.

The kamut growers are the same. They get no-buyback export licenses from the Board and they seem to have a good business with not one peep from them wanting to start a "kamut " Board pool.

The big feed mills are exporting.. If pooling was so good, why doesn't the Canadian Wheat Board pool all the grain that passes through the Export Manufactured Feed Agreement? They don't. They have chosen not to. The big feed mills are not lined up asking the grain to pass through the Board and neither is the Board insisting they do. Why not? If Parsley has to go through the Board, WHY don't the big corporations, flatbroke? That's my point.

You want to talk about how good single desk selling is. But if it is so good for you and I, why isn't it good for all these other groups?

You cannot dismiss the question. For example, if voting is available to a whole lot of other groups, do you want someone doing your voting for you? Don't just defend what the Board is doing by saying a) a nice old man said so, or b) I think I'll botch marketing , instead answer the questions.

The Wheat Board lied about the way the PRO is made up and they got caught at it. Shouldn't you be looking for ways to see that they don't lie again? If they will lie over the PRO, would you not agree that there is a good possibility that when the CWB books are opened up, there could be a fiasco? 4 -5 Billions of dollars available every year, with no-one being able to check up on what has been going on. As a farmer, are you not concerned that the system that is in place with no consistent auditing, and with no accountability at the CWB. is a perfect environment for less than honest behavior?

You said, flatbroke,

Do I think the board needs some changes? Absolutely! And possibly some major ones at that. ",

But you don't say what they are. Parents often cannot see any problems at all with their children, and consequently, the teacher is always wrong, but in the light of day, little Johnny actually can be a bad little rat.

What are the changes you refer to, flatbroke? As a Board supporter, if you don't make a serious attempt at making changes, the Board WILL be gone. Ordinary farmers like yourself and myself are the only ones who can demand and insist on changes. Board Staff will try to be sarcastic with you, they will try to intimidate and humiliate you, but they are just that...staff. If you truly want the Canadian Wheat Board to continue, then give me some reasons how it will be able to continue. For instance,
..... 'the lying has got to stop'. or

..... "Political donations cannot come out of the pooling accounts.' or
.....etc

Unless Board supporters help to clean up the Canadian Wheat Board, we can all presume you fully endorse what is going on, and what is going on will eat the CWB alive.

Parsley