Maclean's Take on the CWB issue

[charliep]

Just thought you might find the recent Macleans article on the CWB interesting.

What the heck is the Wheat Board?
A primer for Canadians who don't live on the Prairies and want to know what everyone is so worked up about
Chris Selley, Macleans.ca | Updated Friday, December 8, 2006, at 16:41 EST
After just a couple of days in office, newly minted Liberal leader Stéphane Dion already had his fingers in some red-hot pies: Afghanistan, same-sex marriage and the saga of since-deposed RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli.

Then Dion returned to his wonkish roots, taking on what might be the least sexy topic of conversation east of Manitoba: the Canadian Wheat Board.

Rest can be seen at:

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/national/article.jsp?article=2006_12_6_1165448956

[craig]

Charlie the only part of the article I would seriously take issue with is Dion accusing the Conservatives of tampering with the voters list. What they did was a recommendation of a panel set up to review the election process. The election process is flawed, the contingency fund is flawed. While the opportunity is there changes need to be made. I think that maybe there is to much focus on the end goal. Win the small battles when you can.

[parsley]

FYI

GLOBE AND MAIL
2007.01.11
SHAWN MCCARTHY


Russia offers to break the ice on the route to Port Churchill


Russia's Transport Minister is urging the federal government to open Churchill, Man., as a year-round port, saying his country's modern icebreaker fleet can now accomplish what some fear global warming will do in a few decades.

In a visit to Ottawa this week, Transport Minister Igor Levitin urged his federal and Manitoba counterparts to step up efforts to realize the centuries-old dream of a polar shipping route, in this case linking Asian and North American markets. Similarly, Mr. Levitin wants Canada to expand the role of the Winnipeg airport as a key hub in an Asia-to-North America air transit circle route.

He said the bilateral talks on the so-called Arctic Bridge sea route have been on the back burner for the past 15 years, but the time has come to act on it.

Russia has a fleet of seven modern icebreakers that could render Churchill and the Siberian port of Murmansk serviceable throughout the year.

"Now we have the people, we have the money and we have the political infrastructure," he said at a luncheon meeting. He said the improved transportation links would further enhance business co-operation in areas such as energy, noting that Russia is now planning to ship liquefied natural gas to North American markets.

"We consider this as very important for bilateral relations," he said.

During his visit to Ottawa, he met federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon and Manitoba's Ron Lemieux, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport. He also visited business executives in Montreal.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Cannon said the minister "thought [the year-round opening of Churchill's port] was a very interesting idea, and it is going to be looked at." Ottawa would have to grant right-of-way for Russian icebreakers to enter Canadian waters, and increase the presence of the Canadian Coast Guard in the Arctic.

Mr. Lemieux, who also met with Mr. Cannon to lobby for federal support, said Asian shippers are eager to find an alternative to West Coast ports, which are backed up, and East Coast or Great Lakes ports, which are too far from their shores.

He said the Russians are eager to provide an answer with the Murmansk-Churchill route.

"It is an idea whose time has come," Mr. Lemieux said in a telephone interview from Winnipeg yesterday. He noted that Chinese and Indian companies have had talks with Russian transport officials over the possibility of using the Arctic route.

"They are looking at a way to get those goods into the heartland of North America . . . and they are looking for ways to use Churchill as a port of entry, and they are looking to use Winnipeg as an air hub. The Russians want to do this right now." Manitoba is urging Ottawa to spend money on Churchill's infrastructure, including the port itself and its rail connections. Mr. Lemieux said Ottawa also needs to beef up its security presence in the Arctic, particularly as northern waters are opened to more shipping. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has signalled his government's desire to reinforce Canada's sovereignty in the North.

Churchill Mayor Mike Spence said the Arctic Bridge project could be the salvation of the town of about 1,100, where residents worry about losing their tourist draw as global warming threatens the polar bear population.

The port of Churchill, which is operated by Denver-based OmniTrax Inc., is open from July to November, handling mainly exports of Canadian wheat. Mr. Spence said the port is underutilized and could handle some increased traffic from Asian importers.

"The federal government needs to step up and look at the Port of Churchill as a strategic asset," Mr. Spence said. Year-round shipping at Churchill "would open up Northern Canada," he added.

Mr. Spence said the effects of global warming -- which, he said, have already resulted in later freeze-up and an earlier breakup of harbour ice -- will provide even greater shipping access to Churchill.

[cottonpicken]

At last the north west passage.
I would guess it would work because of the volunarability of panama and gibraltor.

[northfarmer]

this would be great for the prairies.....a real oprion instead of Vancouver(high cost, congestion, weather problems - rain)....hope this is erious and gets a real look