I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Wheat Board tries to spend its way to victory
November 21, 2002 Â The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) continues to interfere in
the current director elections, squandering farmers¹ money on a propaganda
campaign designed to "buy" the outcome of the CWB election, says a group
dedicated to freedom of choice in grain marketing.
The Wheat Board is blitzing farmers¹ mailboxes and media outlets with
one-sided propaganda that makes a mockery of the election rules, says Alanna
Koch, Chairperson of CARE (Choice, Accountability, Responsibility,
Efficiency).
"It¹s like a government being allowed to spend taxpayers¹ money to finance
its re-election," says Koch. "It¹s something you¹d expect in a
dictatorship."
Koch says it also appears the CWB is using farmers¹ money to influence the
views of some media commentators. She says CARE has learned that at least
one commentator, Paul Beingessner, whose columns are published in several
prairie newspapers regularly communicates with the Wheat Board and has
previously been contracted to serve as a consultant to the Wheat Board.
"It certainly creates the perception that the opinions of this individual
have been bought and paid for by the CWB," says Koch.
Koch challenged the commentator to declare his conflict-of-interest when
expressing views on the Wheat Board. She further challenged the CWB to
reveal the nature of any financial arrangements it has with individuals who
are regularly quoted or published in the news media on the Board¹s
operations.
"We think it¹s only fair that farmers know if these individuals are speaking
on their own behalf or as paid consultants of the Board," she says.
Koch says the Wheat Board continues to put the survival of a system that
jails farmers for selling their own grain ahead of the business of marketing
and maximizing returns. In a year when the CWB will be handling one of the
smallest crops in history, its administration and communication costs are
running at record levels.
Koch says poorly-drafted rules put the election coordinator in an impossible
situation and make it difficult for him to do his job effectively. The
rules give the Wheat Board a "free rein" to put its full resources into the
election effort. She urged farmers to take the time to vote and to support
candidates committed to "change" and "freedom of choice" in the Canadian
Wheat Board marketing system.
Contact:
Alanna Koch, Chairperson, CARE, (306)771-2686
Or
Mary-Lynn Charlton (306) 584-1000
Wheat Board tries to spend its way to victory
November 21, 2002 Â The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) continues to interfere in
the current director elections, squandering farmers¹ money on a propaganda
campaign designed to "buy" the outcome of the CWB election, says a group
dedicated to freedom of choice in grain marketing.
The Wheat Board is blitzing farmers¹ mailboxes and media outlets with
one-sided propaganda that makes a mockery of the election rules, says Alanna
Koch, Chairperson of CARE (Choice, Accountability, Responsibility,
Efficiency).
"It¹s like a government being allowed to spend taxpayers¹ money to finance
its re-election," says Koch. "It¹s something you¹d expect in a
dictatorship."
Koch says it also appears the CWB is using farmers¹ money to influence the
views of some media commentators. She says CARE has learned that at least
one commentator, Paul Beingessner, whose columns are published in several
prairie newspapers regularly communicates with the Wheat Board and has
previously been contracted to serve as a consultant to the Wheat Board.
"It certainly creates the perception that the opinions of this individual
have been bought and paid for by the CWB," says Koch.
Koch challenged the commentator to declare his conflict-of-interest when
expressing views on the Wheat Board. She further challenged the CWB to
reveal the nature of any financial arrangements it has with individuals who
are regularly quoted or published in the news media on the Board¹s
operations.
"We think it¹s only fair that farmers know if these individuals are speaking
on their own behalf or as paid consultants of the Board," she says.
Koch says the Wheat Board continues to put the survival of a system that
jails farmers for selling their own grain ahead of the business of marketing
and maximizing returns. In a year when the CWB will be handling one of the
smallest crops in history, its administration and communication costs are
running at record levels.
Koch says poorly-drafted rules put the election coordinator in an impossible
situation and make it difficult for him to do his job effectively. The
rules give the Wheat Board a "free rein" to put its full resources into the
election effort. She urged farmers to take the time to vote and to support
candidates committed to "change" and "freedom of choice" in the Canadian
Wheat Board marketing system.
Contact:
Alanna Koch, Chairperson, CARE, (306)771-2686
Or
Mary-Lynn Charlton (306) 584-1000
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