Marketing choice in throne speech

[Fransisco]

Well, marketing choice made it into the throne speech. Does Dion have the onions to take down Harper over the issue?

I'm betting not.

[Kodiak]

Does Harper have the onions to do something other than talk about it? I doubt it. Nearly 2 years since they've been in power, and all we've seen is a feeble attempt by regulation, and only for barley.

So far they haven't had either the courage or the political finesse to really get it done.

The Conservative Government is now entirely focused on the Quebec vote. So what do we get? We get more pandering to the politically privileged folks in supply management, and there is nothing for the rest of us. In fact its worse than that. The votes of the VERY small vocal minority of priveleged and pampered folks (with their lavish balance sheets courtesy of the Government of Canada and ransomed Canadian consumers) are being bought with our money. I'm tired of being taken for granted and used.

In the mean time, unless we are saved by the insistence of foreign governments in the WTO that Canada actually become a fair trader, our legititmate and justifiable interests are traded away by the government we helped elect. Talk about betrayal.

[kamichel]

LOL I heard most of the Liberal party wants an election because then afterwards they can get rid of Dion and improve their image.

[AdamSmith]

Did the speech actually mention bringing foward cwb legislation?

I didn't here it. The speach mentioned legislation on numerous other issues but not cwb.

My read of the speech was all lips and no teeth, great for a Saturday night date with your sweetie but not so much for leading a country!

I just can't get rid of the image of a prize fighter who has his opponent on the ropes, bleeding, unbalanced and weakened but instead of delivering a hard right hook to the jaw to win the fight and lay his opponent out cold, the so called prize fighter scratches his nuts and goes and goes to his corner and waits for his challenger to regain his strength.

I voted for Harper because I believed he was different, but I'm sadly coming to the realization that he's just another pol only interested in the trappings and priviledge of power.

So boys and girls can yoy say "Initial payments" for another ten years or more.

I want to hurl!

[AdamSmith]

Oh yeah, Mr. Prime Minister,

I believe the election promise was Choice for WHEAT and Barley.

Wheat, Wheat, Wheat, did I mention wheat?

W for What the F***
H for Hello (it's about wheat)
E for Exasperated beyond belief
A for (it's) All about wheat
T for Testicals (get some)

I still might hurl!

[Fransisco]

Apparently this is what 'incremental' Conservatism is supposed to look like.

But it does seem to bear an more of a resemblance to incremental 'Liberalism' now doesn't it.

[Fransisco]

here is the statement regarding agriculture, is interesting when it comes to barley it states "BY ENACTING MARKETING CHOICE". Hmm one muses here does that mean legislative measures do do so??
Yet to appease Ont/Que supply management they continue to support.

Erik

The agricultural sector will benefit from our government's promotion of biofuels and the new Growing Forward agricultural framework. Our government will recognize the views of farmers, as expressed in the recent plebiscite on barley, by enacting marketing choice. Together with our government's strong support for Canada's supply-managed system, these approaches will deliver stable, predictable and bankable support for farm families.

[TOM4CWB]

AdamSmith/Fransisco,

The CWB was not built in a day... and it surely will not be torn down in a day either.

PM Harper and the troops get sued in court... every time they sneeze around the CWB.

It will be VERY hard for the opposition (ND/BQ/Liberals) to stop the Conservatives from changing barley marketing... as the 62% choice decision by growers was made... and the Aussie ABB proved the market choice model works... and works to maximise the returns of Barley growers. Clearly the AWB is in the same situation... as the western Aussies have strong armed a bunch of export licenses out of Howard and the crew... Anyone can ship in containers...; and Labour (Rudd) may well do much more when he is elected later this year.

Have a little patience!

If you were PM... I sincerely doubt you could or would have done any different... if you were planning to serve all Canadians and do what is best for Canada!

I am VERY thankful Ontario and the Aussies have cleared the trail for us... it will be 100X easier to make the move to choice... for the CWB Fear-mongering has been proven to be nothing more than Wolf-crybaby-spoiled brats...

Doing what out of control "Masters" (the CWB) who have no conscience do best... beating their "Slaves" (Commercial grain growers) into submission!

The CWB has no more interest in maximising my families grain revenue/returns... than they have intent to end the "single desk"!

[AdamSmith]

Oh but Tom, the cwb monopoly was built in a day, I believe it was Sept. 28 1943.

From an Act of War,

Sept 29 , 1943- "The drastic step (establishing a government monopoly)... was taken to protect the price ceiling on essential Canadian foods like bread. The rising market price of wheat meant a heavy financial burden to the government, for part of the control program is a system whereby... bakers purchaseing wheat for domesticc use shall pay no more than 77 3/8 cent a bushel"

[jensend]

one person in the grain industry told me back in august that harper had been trying to work it out with the bloc to remove barley by legislation but the deal couldn't be made. grain farmers who are pro-choice will vote conservative so harper has to worry more about getting the vote of the pro-board people in tight ridings. if i was a grain farmer i'd vote green just to take my vote away from harper but not give it to the morons in the liberal or ndp.

[TOM4CWB]

AdamSmith...

Oh but what a tangled web Ralphy did weave....

Do you remember this"

"Ralph Goodale to be Subpoenaed

"Forty-five minutes after David Sawatzky was acquitted in late May 1996, Agricultural Minister Ralph Goodale passed an Order-in-Council which, he said, plugged a 'loophole' in the CWB export monopoly."


Ralph Goodale made the monopoly iron clad... grain growers themselves... were allowed to export before 1993... it was Goodale who ended the Continental Barley market... As well...by refusing to appeal the decision by Justice Rothstein.

BUT It was really the Judicial COuncil of the Privy Council in England... on May 20 1952... and CWB COuncil Henry Monk... that created the iron clad right to confiscate property... over turning our own Supreme Court of Canada decison respecting our property rights!

It has all been down hill since then!

[parsley]

WBGA APPLAUDS TODAY'S THRONE SPEECH RECOGNIZING BARLEY FARMERS NEED FOR CHOICE

October 16, 2007 ~ Airdrie, AB: Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, today reinforced in the speech from the throne the governments continued pledge to give barley producers true choice as to how they market their barley.

"A key message was given to western Canadian barley producers today - that this government will continue to work towards granting barley farmers the right to sell and market their barley how they deem best" states Jeff Nielsen, President of the Western Barley Growers Association (WBGA).

Today's throne speech states "Our government will recognize the views of farmers, as expressed in the recent plebiscite on barley, by enacting marketing choice".

"Clearly this government has the commitment to provide barley producers marketing choice. With that they have the full support of barley farmers to do what is needed. Today's barley producer is seeing potential income lost due to the marketing of barley for malt and export solely through the Canadian Wheat Board.

We need the ability to immediately access existing and potential new emerging barley markets. Creating more value added growth and development, along with stronger relations with current industry partners such as our malting sector.

With that it will provide our farm business the ability to achieve higher net farm returns. This progressive positive government is focused on giving barley producers this choice; whereas the other federal parties have stated that they will refuse the right of barley producers choice, keeping us locked to an antiquated marketing system and continued poor net returns" concludes Nielsen

WBGA and its members thank Prime Minister Harper and Hon. Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Wheat, for their continued pledge for marketing choice.

WBGA encourages all barley producers to visit our web site www.wbga.org and fill out a barley information form.

For more information contact:

JeffNielsen President ~ WBGA Cell: 403.556.0408
jeffniel@platinum.ca

[parsley]

Wheat Growers Encouraged by Throne Speech

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is pleased to see the federal government signal in yesterday’s Throne Speech that it will make marketing choice into law either through legislation or regulation.

"It's good to see the federal government is now taking concrete action to honour its pledge to give prairie farmers the right to sell our own grain," says Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, President of the Wheat Growers.

The Wheat Growers had written to the Prime Minister and the Agriculture Minister on October 1 asking the government to announce that it would introduce legislation this fall to provide for participation in the CWB to be voluntary for both wheat and barley. The Wheat Growers had further asked that such legislation be subject to a confidence motion.

"We look forward to implementation of marketing choice for both wheat and barley whether that's through legislation or regulation," says Mike Bast, Chair of the Wheat Growers.

"We want legislation passed because that makes the change more permanent, but if regulation will get the job done faster, that's important too, because many farmers want the ability to take advantage of the current strong prices in world grain markets."

The Wheat Growers are also encouraged by the federal government’s commitment to biofuels and its plans to remove barriers that inhibit free trade within Canada, however we are disappointed the government appears to have abandoned efforts to obtain greater trade liberalization on the world stage.

The throne speech indicated the federal government would defend supply management but gave no indication that it would advance the interests of the 90% of Canadian farmers whose income depends on access to export markets.

"The government needs to take a more broad-minded approach and demonstrate a willingness to promote the trade interests of those of us who depend on world markets," says Jolly-Nagel.


For further comment, please contact:Cherilyn Jolly Nagel
Farm306)354-2517

Cell: (306) 354-7368

[Kodiak]

With all the bravado coming from the Conservative Government- making legislation from the throne speech matters of confidence - why aren't we hearing anything from Harper-Ritz about opening up the wheat market? It seems like the government can muster up courage on gun crimes and put the boots to the opposition over that, so why do they not courageously put forward their promises to wheat farmers and bring on legislation as a matter of confidence too?

Does anyone really think Dion is going to force an election over the CWB? Do urban Ontario and Quebec even know what the CWB is, let alone care?

Com'on Harper, let's get on with it.

[Fransisco]

I agree with Kodiak.

If Dion is going to pass the 'take it or leave it' crime bill he will certainly pass legislative changes to the CWB act. Time to go for the whole enchilada and get wheat out as well.

Dion spent 45 minutes in the house yesterday talking about everything that was wrong with the Conservative throne speech and then passed it anyways. What Libs say and what they do are two different things. They talk tough on the CWB but right now, with the situation they're in, when push comes to shove they'll fold like a cheap suit.