The fundamental issue around CWB public comments is "preservation of the CWB". Whenever you read ANYTHING presented by the CWB, keep this in mind and all will make sense.
It doesn't matter that Harper is factually correct - what matters is that his comments made the CWB look bad. The CWB's interest is in spinning it around so that they can draw positive light on themselves. First they say Harper was wrong but as evidence they talk about what the trade was paying for malt barley and then what the PRO is now for malt barley. They don't talk about why the barley market dropped like a dead cat following the judge's ruling.
They talk about the market as if its some disembodied entity that the trade simply follows - prices simply emerge out of --- whatever. They totally miss the point that the market price is a function of many people making independent decisions, based on what is going on around them. There's a very good reason why the barley market in Western Canada dropped - because barley buyers dropped their prices. In writing up their release, did the CWB interview any barley traders asking why they dropped their prices? If they didn't, shame on them. If they did and didn't reflect their opinions in their release, shame on them.
Also remember - the CWB was arguing against what they saw as Harper suggesting the ONLY reason the barley market went down was the return of the single desk. (Only a myopic idiot would believe that that was what Harper was trying to say - but I digress.) As evidence to back up their argument they talk about how the CWB price is higher now than earlier when the grain companies were setting prices. Are they suggesting this is because of the CWB? And maybe, if you're gullible, that its ONLY because of the CWB?
As far as the CWB PR department is concerned, their job is done if you are left with the impression that if the price is going down, its not their fault, and if the price is going up, it is their fault.
As a childhood hero of mine used to say "Good Grief!"
It doesn't matter that Harper is factually correct - what matters is that his comments made the CWB look bad. The CWB's interest is in spinning it around so that they can draw positive light on themselves. First they say Harper was wrong but as evidence they talk about what the trade was paying for malt barley and then what the PRO is now for malt barley. They don't talk about why the barley market dropped like a dead cat following the judge's ruling.
They talk about the market as if its some disembodied entity that the trade simply follows - prices simply emerge out of --- whatever. They totally miss the point that the market price is a function of many people making independent decisions, based on what is going on around them. There's a very good reason why the barley market in Western Canada dropped - because barley buyers dropped their prices. In writing up their release, did the CWB interview any barley traders asking why they dropped their prices? If they didn't, shame on them. If they did and didn't reflect their opinions in their release, shame on them.
Also remember - the CWB was arguing against what they saw as Harper suggesting the ONLY reason the barley market went down was the return of the single desk. (Only a myopic idiot would believe that that was what Harper was trying to say - but I digress.) As evidence to back up their argument they talk about how the CWB price is higher now than earlier when the grain companies were setting prices. Are they suggesting this is because of the CWB? And maybe, if you're gullible, that its ONLY because of the CWB?
As far as the CWB PR department is concerned, their job is done if you are left with the impression that if the price is going down, its not their fault, and if the price is going up, it is their fault.
As a childhood hero of mine used to say "Good Grief!"
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