Reasons Why should CWB Directors Should Provide DA Farmers With Marketing Choice

[parsley]

The Wheat Growers' say this:



Media Release
For Immediate Release: January 30, 2008

Wheat Growers Applaud Minister Ritz for Plans to Move Forward on Barley

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is pleased the federal government has signaled its intent to bring about a free market in barley by August 1, 2008.

“It is evident that Canadian malt barley sales are being lost under the current regime,” says Mike Bast, Chair of the Wheat Growers. “The inability of maltsters to contract directly with farmers means they cannot secure supplies to confidently book forward sales contracts.”

Bast made his comments following the meeting in Ottawa yesterday in which Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz met with the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), the malting companies, the brewers, the grain handlers and producer groups. Bast attended the meeting along with the Wheat Growers Alberta Vice President Stephen Vandervalk.

The unworkability of the CWB’s new CashPlus program and its inability to fully transmit market signals creates needless uncertainty for farmers and other malt industry players. This price and delivery uncertainty means that acreage will continue to shift to those crops where farmers are in a position to contract directly with buyers.

“Moving to free up the barley market would increase barley acreage and increase the percentage of the crop sold into higher value malt markets,” says Vandervalk. “It would also spur greater investment in barley processing here on the prairies. More local market opportunities means more competition for our grain.”

In the meeting, the CWB representatives did indicate a willingness to refer the matter to the CWB Board of Directors, who will be holding a strategic planning session this week.

“Unless the CWB is prepared to provide farmers with real market choice on its own, the Minister has no choice but to take steps to give farmers barley marketing freedom by August 1, 2008,” says Bast. “Farmers will soon be finalizing planting decisions and need to know they can count on an open market once that crop is harvested.”

- 30 -

For further comment, please contact:

Mike Bast
Chair
(204) 256-6187
Stephen Vandervalk
Alberta Vice-President
(403) 795-1171

[parsley]

Franscisco and AdamSmith,

IF The CWB Directors are not interested in reasoning, in rights, in economics, and in what is best for farmers, this week at their Directors' Meeting by granting immediate releif from the monopoly, then I would like to see the Government proceed to # @.

Destroy them completely.

Parsley

[parsley]

oops

@ = #2

[AdamSmith]

Since you asked Parsley,

#2 on your hit list is #1 in my heart.

parsley, it's not just the eight Karl Marx wannabee's that are at play inside the nuthouse at 423 Main. It's the likes of Ward Weasel, Dear Deanna, Earl Giddies, and fifty other kool-aid drinkers that need to experience a paradigm shift here,

I wish I could think that might happen, but unfortunatly,

It just ain't gonna happen.

Not tommorow anyways.

Our best bet is for Ritz and the boys to fight it out in Ottawa.

My guess a letter or phone call to any number of Bloq MP's has far more yield potential than a loathsome conversation with any one of the Karl Marx eight.

[parsley]

You are far too persuasive for such a subdued spirit such as I.

I was merely anticipating marketing choice first thing Friday morning, and I thought perhaps some of the Directors may try to salvage the accelerating erosion of confidence of their die-hard supporters.

62% of farmers want an instant divorce now, and many of them will no longer politely concede to the notion of duality; Board-spurning multiples.

The captive shareholders are bailing out.

The noticable mass-rejection of the CWB itself, at the farmgate, should stir the Directors to act in a conciliatory manner, and prompt some negotiating fervor.

Unless they are truly dull of mind.

Parsley

[AdamSmith]

Unless they are truly dull of mind.

Yup!

these guys don't even know their light bulbs are burnt out (ya know, the ones that go off when they get an inspiring idea)

[parsley]

You are far too persuasive, AdamSmith.

[Raven]

Lets not forget the CWB Directors and bureaucracy are not in charge. The Act is full of "the Governor in Council may make regulations..." A few examples cut and pasted:

"Duty to comply
3.12 (2) The directors and officers of the Corporation shall comply with this Act, the regulations, the by-laws of the Corporation and any directions given to the Corporation under this Act.
6. (1) The Corporation possesses the following powers:
(j) to act as agent for or on behalf of any minister or agent of Her Majesty in right of Canada in respect of any operations that it may be directed to carry out by the Governor in Council;
Directions to the Corporation
18. (1) The Governor in Council may, by order, direct the Corporation with respect to the manner in which any of its operations, powers and duties under this Act shall be conducted, exercised or performed.
Directors (1.1) The directors shall cause the directions to be implemented and, in so far as they act in accordance with section 3.12, they are not accountable for any consequences arising from the implementation of the directions.
Best interests (1.2) Compliance by the Corporation with directions is deemed to be in the best interests of the Corporation."

As long as the G.in C. doesn't give orders contravening or beyond the Act, the orders must be followed.

Why would we try to convince leftie directors, Bloque lefties and liberal senators if Minister Ritz can give us what we need?

[Raven]

Raven,

I think the Canadian Wheat Board Act is an abomination.

For example, feed mills and elevators are treated like they have been confiscated for Canadians. Good grief. I don't want that kind of anit-democratic control to continue, and regulatory changes can weaken and not destroy. My choice would be to delete the CWB into Trash.

Why should wheat and barley shipments be licensed? Canola and flax are not.

Why should the CWB have so much legislated control over the railroads?

The CWB Act functions as a national licensing body, but it does it in a discriminatory fashion. So what is the point of continuing with national licnesing duties?

The CWB functions as though it is a mutant, crippled by sections not in force, ignoring the Act that is supposed to rule it, disdaining the people it is supposed to serve, afflicted with cronyism.

Haughty, self-serving, secretive, and hopelessly indifferent, their percieived incessant fighting with and percieived deceptive practices to the farm community has destroyed whatever they might have been,.

I really don't sanction its' survival, but I would tolerate Directors' licensing approval until it is put to sleep as is the fate of all slightly rabid dogs.

Parsley

[Raven]

Parsley,

I posted your email so hope I am not in trouble.

[bucket]

The cwb have to provide it because they are not above the gov't. Like agriweek said a months ago - what would happen if the army decided to do anything they pleased.
Until the pro cwb crowd decides to start paying my input bills - quit stealing my money by this communistic pooling.

[Jay-mo]

Parsley, While I appreciate option #5 to some degree I would never be an advocate for breaking the law. Thanks anyway.hehe
I will have to agree with you that an immediate change of policy regarding no-charge license (option #4) with forthcoming changes via parliament abolishing the act completely (option #2).

[parsley]

1. Raven: Fine, but I'd appreciate it if you don't post it on your website.

2. bucket:

"The cwb have to provide it because they are not above the gov't."

I agree. However, the single-desk Directors have ignored their own Act for so long, they actually think they are above the law. Irresponsible.

Maybe a class action against the Single-Desk Directors is appropriate.

If the Choice directors are smart, they will ask for a recorded vote.

3. Jay-mo: Ghandi broke the law. If he hadn't, Indians woould still be paying a tariff to the British in order to get salt from the ocean in their own bloody country.

Parsley

[silverback]

Please let me know how to participate in a class action suit. I would be very interested in that.

[wedino]

I've often thought the same, Parsley.
>>
If the Choice directors are smart, they will ask for a recorded vote.<<

But, what does it matter? The board minutes are not public, I've asked numerous times. Maybe in a court of law, tho.