December 6, 2006
BALLOTS IN MAIL FOR WHEAT BOARD VOTE
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Results Will Tell Ottawa Where Manitoba Farmers Stand on Future of CWB: Wowchuk
Ballots are in the mail to Manitoba wheat and barley producers to give farmers a voice on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk announced today.
“Chuck Strahl and Stephen Harper have made no secret of their plans to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk,” Wowchuk said. “Minister Strahl has acted unilaterally and aggressively, setting up an anti-wheat board task force, firing wheat board leaders who dare disagree with him and all the while, refusing to allow any opportunity for farmers to have their voices heard.
“Today, our government is making good on our commitment to give farmers a voice.”
Eligible producers will begin receiving ballots this week. The ballot includes two questions, one each on wheat and barley marketing. The ballot questions reflect the exact wording proposed by the Prairie Producer Coalition, comprised of the Keystone Agricultural Producers, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, National Farmers’ Union and Wild Rose Agricultural Producers. The question asks producers in clear terms if they wish to maintain the ability to market both wheat and barley through the CWB single desk or if they wish to remove the single desk marketing system and instead sell through an open market.
Wowchuk said the results of the vote will illustrate for the federal government whether Manitoba farmers believe changes should be considered to how wheat and barley are sold.
“Only after this vote is completed and the ballots counted will Minister Strahl have clear direction from Manitoba farmers on whether changes should be made to the Canadian Wheat Board,” said Wowchuk. “Until farmers have spoken, no government has any mandate to make changes to an institution that belongs not to politicians in Ottawa, but to farmers on the Prairies.”
The vote is open to all Manitoba producers who grew wheat or barley in the last two years. The voters’ list was generated using the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation production insurance database. All producers named in a production insurance contract for a farming enterprise that grew wheat or barley in the last two years will automatically receive a ballot.
Producers who did not purchase production insurance or who are not named in their farm’s production insurance contract may still be added to the voters’ list by filling out a declaration form before Dec. 18. The declarations are available online and at all Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives GO centres and offices. There will be a commissioner for oaths available free of charge at all GO centres and offices to witness the declarations.
Details of voter eligibility and information on making a declaration are available at http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture and at any GO centre or office in Manitoba.
All declarations must be made by Dec. 18. The deadline for producers to mail completed ballots is Jan. 5. All voter packages include a postage-paid return envelope. Results are expected in mid-January.
Voting will be administered, tabulated and audited by Meyers Norris Penny. Total cost for the vote will be approximately $80,000.
The following questions will be included on the ballot:
· Wheat Marketing:
- I wish to maintain the ability to market all wheat, with the continuing exception of feed wheat sold domestically, through the CWB single desk system.
- I wish to remove the single desk marketing system from the CWB and sell all wheat through an open market system.
· Barley Marketing:
- I wish to maintain the ability to market all barley, both malting/food, with the continuing exception of feed barley sold domestically, through the CWB single desk system.
- I wish to remove the single desk marketing system from the CWB and sell all barley through an open market system.
BALLOTS IN MAIL FOR WHEAT BOARD VOTE
– – –
Results Will Tell Ottawa Where Manitoba Farmers Stand on Future of CWB: Wowchuk
Ballots are in the mail to Manitoba wheat and barley producers to give farmers a voice on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk announced today.
“Chuck Strahl and Stephen Harper have made no secret of their plans to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk,” Wowchuk said. “Minister Strahl has acted unilaterally and aggressively, setting up an anti-wheat board task force, firing wheat board leaders who dare disagree with him and all the while, refusing to allow any opportunity for farmers to have their voices heard.
“Today, our government is making good on our commitment to give farmers a voice.”
Eligible producers will begin receiving ballots this week. The ballot includes two questions, one each on wheat and barley marketing. The ballot questions reflect the exact wording proposed by the Prairie Producer Coalition, comprised of the Keystone Agricultural Producers, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, National Farmers’ Union and Wild Rose Agricultural Producers. The question asks producers in clear terms if they wish to maintain the ability to market both wheat and barley through the CWB single desk or if they wish to remove the single desk marketing system and instead sell through an open market.
Wowchuk said the results of the vote will illustrate for the federal government whether Manitoba farmers believe changes should be considered to how wheat and barley are sold.
“Only after this vote is completed and the ballots counted will Minister Strahl have clear direction from Manitoba farmers on whether changes should be made to the Canadian Wheat Board,” said Wowchuk. “Until farmers have spoken, no government has any mandate to make changes to an institution that belongs not to politicians in Ottawa, but to farmers on the Prairies.”
The vote is open to all Manitoba producers who grew wheat or barley in the last two years. The voters’ list was generated using the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation production insurance database. All producers named in a production insurance contract for a farming enterprise that grew wheat or barley in the last two years will automatically receive a ballot.
Producers who did not purchase production insurance or who are not named in their farm’s production insurance contract may still be added to the voters’ list by filling out a declaration form before Dec. 18. The declarations are available online and at all Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives GO centres and offices. There will be a commissioner for oaths available free of charge at all GO centres and offices to witness the declarations.
Details of voter eligibility and information on making a declaration are available at http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture and at any GO centre or office in Manitoba.
All declarations must be made by Dec. 18. The deadline for producers to mail completed ballots is Jan. 5. All voter packages include a postage-paid return envelope. Results are expected in mid-January.
Voting will be administered, tabulated and audited by Meyers Norris Penny. Total cost for the vote will be approximately $80,000.
The following questions will be included on the ballot:
· Wheat Marketing:
- I wish to maintain the ability to market all wheat, with the continuing exception of feed wheat sold domestically, through the CWB single desk system.
- I wish to remove the single desk marketing system from the CWB and sell all wheat through an open market system.
· Barley Marketing:
- I wish to maintain the ability to market all barley, both malting/food, with the continuing exception of feed barley sold domestically, through the CWB single desk system.
- I wish to remove the single desk marketing system from the CWB and sell all barley through an open market system.
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