Charlie,
In April of 1996, the CWB through their agent Minister Goodale... took power from grain growers in the 'designated area' through an 'Order in Council' (Changing the CWB Act; requiring an export license to be presented by growers themselves, with their own produce, to Customs...
This "Order in Council" Goodale put in force... just minutes after the Sawatsky Ruling in Manitoba against the CWB; created the CWB monopoly over grain growers in the 'designated area'.
Now the government wants just a touch of accountability... through an arbitration process... and;
what a squeal...
Question:
Did the 'King' of nothing...just discover... he isn't wearing any cloths?
Newsroom
2008
Government taking back power from farmers
March 4, 2008
Winnipeg – Legislation tabled yesterday by the federal government would turn back the clock on farmer control and shift power from producers to grain companies, CWB officials said today.
Proposed amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board Act would give the government unilateral power to make decisions on barley marketing without consulting farmers. Bill C-46 would also compel the CWB to submit to arbitration in disputes over commercial grain handling agreements, which could cost farmers tens of millions of dollars a year.
“This legislation would essentially take money from farmers and hand it over to the grain companies,” said Ward Weisensel, CWB Chief Operating Officer. “The CWB currently negotiates supply-chain agreements with the goal of maximizing farmer returns. This power would be greatly reduced.” The legislation is completely unnecessary, he said, since grain companies can already arbitrate disputes with the CWB through either the federal Competition Bureau or the courts.
While the government insists its policies are focused on marketing “freedom” for farmers, this provision would actually give grain companies more freedom to increase their profits at farmers’ expense, Weisensel added.
The same legislation would see the federal government take back power from farmers regarding decisions over barley marketing. Fundamental changes to the CWB Act in 1998 that transferred decision-making power to farmers would be undone. Instead of having producers themselves decide whether barley stays in the CWB single-desk marketing system – through their elected representatives at the CWB and a referendum – the government would give itself the unilateral power to do so.
“This legislation sidesteps the whole issue of consulting producers,” said CWB board chair Ken Ritter. “If passed, it would free the government from answering to charges that it has not, in fact, properly consulted with the CWB board of directors nor held a valid referendum among farmers. This once again raises serious concens about issues of democracy, due process and farmer control.”
Ritter said the government’s rhetoric has recently changed from insistence on a “strong and viable CWB” to descriptions of the organization as a “bad dream” that will “blow away” or be hit by an “avalanche”.
“There is little remaining doubt that the federal government intends to dismantle an organization that has long played an invaluable role on behalf of western Canadian farmers,” he said, adding that the CWB’s board of directors supports retention of the single-desk system of grain marketing because of its value to farmers.
Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to over 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to farmers.
For more information, please contact:
Maureen Fitzhenry,
CWB media relations manager
(204) 983-3101,
Cell: (204) 227-6927
maureen_fitzhenry@cwb.ca"
In April of 1996, the CWB through their agent Minister Goodale... took power from grain growers in the 'designated area' through an 'Order in Council' (Changing the CWB Act; requiring an export license to be presented by growers themselves, with their own produce, to Customs...
This "Order in Council" Goodale put in force... just minutes after the Sawatsky Ruling in Manitoba against the CWB; created the CWB monopoly over grain growers in the 'designated area'.
Now the government wants just a touch of accountability... through an arbitration process... and;
what a squeal...
Question:
Did the 'King' of nothing...just discover... he isn't wearing any cloths?
Newsroom
2008
Government taking back power from farmers
March 4, 2008
Winnipeg – Legislation tabled yesterday by the federal government would turn back the clock on farmer control and shift power from producers to grain companies, CWB officials said today.
Proposed amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board Act would give the government unilateral power to make decisions on barley marketing without consulting farmers. Bill C-46 would also compel the CWB to submit to arbitration in disputes over commercial grain handling agreements, which could cost farmers tens of millions of dollars a year.
“This legislation would essentially take money from farmers and hand it over to the grain companies,” said Ward Weisensel, CWB Chief Operating Officer. “The CWB currently negotiates supply-chain agreements with the goal of maximizing farmer returns. This power would be greatly reduced.” The legislation is completely unnecessary, he said, since grain companies can already arbitrate disputes with the CWB through either the federal Competition Bureau or the courts.
While the government insists its policies are focused on marketing “freedom” for farmers, this provision would actually give grain companies more freedom to increase their profits at farmers’ expense, Weisensel added.
The same legislation would see the federal government take back power from farmers regarding decisions over barley marketing. Fundamental changes to the CWB Act in 1998 that transferred decision-making power to farmers would be undone. Instead of having producers themselves decide whether barley stays in the CWB single-desk marketing system – through their elected representatives at the CWB and a referendum – the government would give itself the unilateral power to do so.
“This legislation sidesteps the whole issue of consulting producers,” said CWB board chair Ken Ritter. “If passed, it would free the government from answering to charges that it has not, in fact, properly consulted with the CWB board of directors nor held a valid referendum among farmers. This once again raises serious concens about issues of democracy, due process and farmer control.”
Ritter said the government’s rhetoric has recently changed from insistence on a “strong and viable CWB” to descriptions of the organization as a “bad dream” that will “blow away” or be hit by an “avalanche”.
“There is little remaining doubt that the federal government intends to dismantle an organization that has long played an invaluable role on behalf of western Canadian farmers,” he said, adding that the CWB’s board of directors supports retention of the single-desk system of grain marketing because of its value to farmers.
Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to over 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to farmers.
For more information, please contact:
Maureen Fitzhenry,
CWB media relations manager
(204) 983-3101,
Cell: (204) 227-6927
maureen_fitzhenry@cwb.ca"