Wheat Board Directors Backtracking

[parsley]

Obviously its getting close to election time for CWB directors!! The campaign seems well underway here on Agri-ville.

Tom

[parsley]

thalpenny,

I hope you're not having difficulty grasping the overall dialogue here, thalpenny.

You say, " The campaign seems well underway here on Agri-ville."

I want to make sure that you know that it is not the contributors to this thread who are in the running as Directors for the CWB, (none of them have declared their intention), rather, as producers, we are making comments about the encumbents and the acting Directors who have done a 180 degree turn on their policy, very obviously becauseTHEY are ones campaigning.

Last month, every Director vigorously, and even rudely, defended their position to farmers, to the press, (and to their Grandmothers, most likely), that it is perfectly legitimate to give producer's pooled money to the Rhinocerous Party et al.

All of a sudden, that policy is scrapped. Why was it such good policy last month, but had to be scrapped this month?

Interesting timing, wouldn't you agree, thalpenny? I think it is important that farmers should be commenting and they should be taking into consideration what the Directors say, and then compare it to what the Directors do. That makes for informed voters. Of course, in this Fundraiser case, farmers weren't even told about the policy the CWB had quietly adopted; hence, the importance of sharing the information. This does not reflect well on the present encumbents, but these are the facts.

I would hope that all Moderators on Agri-ville will encourage producers to continue to share information, not because producers are necessarily "campaigning", (although they have every right to do just that) , but rather so we can become the most knowlegeable voters we can possibly be.

Parsley

[parsley]

Good Morning Agrivillers,

The following is listed on the CWB's Website and is taken from the Board of Director's Code of Conduct. Farmers will be wondering if the Directors followed their Code of Conduct, because if they didn't before, they certainly won't in the future. It's a good guideline for voters.

We all know that Mr. Goodale's appointee took money from the pooling accounts and that is improper conduct according to their own standards. Unfortunately, Chairman Ritter swore up and down that the Code of Conduct was not breached but we all know what the Code says about appointees. So we'll write off Mr. Ritter.

Have the Board of Directors acted properly since this dipping took place? Let's follow what the Code of Coduct STATES they should do:

QUOTE
(iii) Integrity, honesty, and trust are essential elements of our business success. Any director who knows or suspects the existence of a conflict of interest from the Corporation or a violation of this Code of Conduct or the corporate Code of Conduct, has a responsibility to report it to the Chair, Chair of the Governance Committee or President
UNQUOTE

Maybe halpenny would know if this breach was formally reported. Could you let us know?

Look at the next instruction.

QUOTE
. Return
An improper gift or benefit should be returned to the person offering it as soon as practicable. If there is no opportunity to return an improper gift or benefit or where the return may be perceived as offensive for cultural or
other reasons, the gift or benefit must immediately be disclosed and turned over to the Board Chair or Corporate Secretary who will make a suitable disposition of the item." UNQUOTE

Here an improper gift (meal ticket) was made by the CWB to an appointee. Was the money returned to the pooling accounts? This is not about the money. There's a principle involved here.

Ask Mr. Macklin
Ask Mr. Nicholson
Ask Mr. Halyk
Ask Mr. Hill.
And use it for reference when voting.

Parsley

[parsley]

I listened to Thomas d'Aquino this morning on CTV, talking about the recommendations that will be made to business and corporations across Canada because of the lack of investor confidence which stems from the lack of a moral compass.

He spoke of the importance of the "integrity" and "character" of the Boards of Directors and CEO's and Management. Without them, investors will shy away, because of a lack of confidence. He acknowleged there is a problem.

For ever so long, the CWB has been ignoring issues of non-confidence, hoping they will go away. Farm organizations have slowly developed into non-confidence groups. Instead of trying to mend their ways, or correcting problems, the Board has decided to ' ride it out' and not deal with the farm organizations concerns. Or farmer concerns. The questions don't get addressed. Answers continue to be evasive. Wrongs aren't righted.

This is folly.

Parsley

[parsley]

I see in the Edmonton Journal last week that the Alberta Government has the 3rd reading of bill 207 this fall and it appears it will pass. Bill 207 allows for the formation of a Alberta Wheat and Barley Marketing Board to replace the CWB for Alberta farmers.

This will allow free marketing of these grains similiar to what Ontario farmers enjoy through their Ontario Wheat Marketing Board.

It is a move by Alberta to create more value added industry in agriculture.

It's about time.