Do You Want District # 8's Flaman to Resign?

[parsley]

1. Write the ethics commissioner and complain that Flaman has a conflict of interest trying to represent District # 8 farmers at the Board table at the same time as being a Liberal candidate.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/ciec-ccie/en/


2.Check out the CWB Code of Conduct:

http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/about/people/


3. In the past, the CWB set a precedent:

In 2001:
At the Liberal fundraiser in Winnipeg, Ed Zinger, Liberal Appointee, represented the CWB at the the Board's special table at the Liberal soiree, and $400.00 was paid out of farmers' pooling accounts for him. An obvious contravention.

This is a quote from the Code of Conduct at that time:

C. Political Activities
"Partisan politics must not be introduced into the workplace in any way which creates undue or inappropriate influence on employees within the
CWB"

Did the CWB follow this policy from their code? No No No!!!Six CWB Directors , along with four staff attended the Liberal fundraiser, creating another obvious policy contravention. So a precedent of non-adherence is set at the CWB. This is why the Ethics Commissioner will be particularly interested in farmers' concerns this time around. Tell her about it.

4. This is a quote from the Code of Conduct at the time of their breach!!!1:
" II Policy
B. "Members of the Board who are appointed by the Governor-in-Council shall not represent the CWB in making financial or other contributions to political organizations or any other candidates seeking election to government at any level in Canada. "

Followed their code? NO No No Mr. Ed Zinger was in contravention of this Board policy. He was appointed to the CWB by Minister Goodale,and he attended the Liberal fundraiser in Winnipeg, represented the CWB at the the Board's table, and $400.00 was paid out of farmers' pooling accounts personally for him. An obvious contravention.
At least farmers found out about this onbe. How many others don't we know about?

5. C of C states:

"Directors must not act in their official role to assist organizations or persons in their dealings with the CWB if this may result in preferential treatment to that organization or person."


There is a perception in the farm community that a sitting CWB director running for Federal election will give preferential treatment to the Liberal Party. Information, for example.

Flaman, as a Liberal candidate must resign, because there is a perception he is more interested in winning the MP hat than in getting wheat sold.


6."Directors have a duty to report any activity which:
(b) represents a real or apparent conflict of interest, a breach of these standards, or a breach of the CWB's code of ethical conduct;"

Have the Directors reported a conflict of interest? Ask them.

Liberal party of Canada supports denying licenses to Western farmers, thereby guaranteeing cheap grain remains available to Eastern Canada, because Westerners cannot export the grain. But Ontario and Quebec can.

7.Directors must not allow prospects of outside employment to create a real or potential conflict of interest during their employment or appointment with the CWB. "
What do you think is the most important to Flaman right now? Getting elected or selling wheat?


8.
"Directors must refrain from conduct which compromises or may be

perceived


to compromise their ability to carry out their duties in an impartial manner and must be mindful that the public may not distinguish between their role in the corporation and their role in outside activities."

Perceived is a word Flaman must consider.And the Commissioner must consider.

Ask for his resignation.


9."Members of the Board who are appointed by the Governor-in-Council shall refrain from taking part in discussions or voting on decisions regarding the CWB’s support of any particular political organizations at any level in Canada"


An argument can be made that Members of the Boaard who have declared themselves as candidates shall refrain as well.

Look at the involvement of the Liberals at the CWB, as noted in another thread.


Take time,write to the Commissioner and ask that now that Flaman is a declared candidate, he should step down.


Parsley

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

There certainly is a 'Perception' of a conflict... the Liberals can get all sorts of inside info on issues not normally avaliable to them except through Rod Flaman.

It can be compared to a Director sitting on both a Liberal and Conservative EDA... at the same time... the very conflict a sitting MP would have IF they were a CWB Director.

[AdamSmith]

Do I want Flaman to resign?

Tough call parsley.

On one hand,

It's always fun to see a cwb windbag destroy their own credibility.

and if Flaman stays on, his crediblity and worth as a director is shot,

he might as well tatoo, "I'm desperate for a Liberal patronage appointment" on his forehead, and "Stephen Harper can blow me" on his ass.



BUT if he were to resign, there is a chance that that could shake up the BOD enough to see some positive changes from within, like waving the export licence requirement for barley and maybe unregistered wheat and winter wheat.

Hmmmm, heads or tails????

[SASKFARMER3]

Simply yes Rod Flaman Should Resign from the CWB to Run for a Liberal.
This is one way to kill two birds with one stone.
If he quits he is off the Board. Farmers wont vote for him again, he would have to be put back on by appointment from some liberal Govt if they ever win.
Second by Running he will split the Liberal NDP vote and Let the Conservative candidate win.
So then if the Fed Conservatives win. Rod Flaman is out of Both politics and CWB and maybe the Man will then fade away.

[Burbert]

No. Did Chuckie resign after making a fool of himself in Gag? No he moved on to a bigger and better posting, promotion, it is the way tings happen in gov't. Perhaps all detectors at the CWB, should give up Comedian citizenship, when they are elected and take office, also be forced to sell their framing ops. Lots of logic here for you orgasmic guys to chew on!!!!

[GrowTeff]

Flaman has to go.
Write. Call. email. The other directors need to hear from you. This is not the time to be silent. Cell phones work well from the combine.

[parsley]

REASONS WHY FLAMAN SHOULD RESIGN



#1.
In the past, the Canadian Wheat Board' has employed some tricky ethics:

The CWB's clause in their April 2001 version of their Code of Ethics under Political Activites posted on their web page:

"In order to ensure its independence and objectivity, the CWB will not use corporate funds, goods or services as a contribution to political parties, candidates, or campaigns".

This prevention clause prevented the CWB Board of Directors from dipping into farmers' pooling accounts, which were called"corporate funds" in the clause.



In May 2001, the CWB quietly revised the April version and renamed the section Political Activities(link to Political Donations Policy)

Then, the CWB Board of Directors removed the prevention clause and substituted it with the following clause:

"The Board and individual directors will comply with the Political Donations Policy adopted by the Board."

As soon as an election was in the making, the CWB Directors changed their policy.Quietly.

Nothing prevents them from doing the same for a pending election in the future.

Nothing stops the CWB Board of Directors from holding a Conference call the night before a political event, pass a motion, and grant the Liberal Party, or any political party unlimited funds friom the pooling accounts.

Partisanship is at it's highest level during a political campaign period, and Mr. Flaman's political maneuvering should be be at its' peak in view of his fresh expression of intent.

#2,

This is from the Code of Conduct in 2001 posted on the CWB website:

" II Policy
B. "Members of the Board who are appointed by the Governor-in-Council
shall not represent the CWB in making financial or other contributions
to political organizations or any other candidates seeking election to
government at any level in Canada. "

Did the CWB follow their code? No they did not. Mr. Ed Zinger was in contravention of this Board policy. He was appointed to the CWB by Minister Goodale,and he attended the Liberal fundraiser in Winnipeg, represented the CWB at the the Board's table, and $400.00 was paid out of farmers' pooling accounts for him. An obvious contravention




#3 This is from the 2001 Code of Conduct pasted on the CWB website:

C. Political Activities
"Partisan politics must not be introduced into the workplace in any way which creates undue or inappropriate influence on employees within the
CWB"

Did the CWB follow this policy from their code? Not at all.

Six CWB Directors , along with four staff attended the Liberal fundraiser, creating another obvious policy contravention. And paid for by farmers


Put an end to this nonsense.
Call your Board. Write to the Ethics Commissioner.

ciec-ccie@parl.gc.ca


Or be bloody sheep.

Parsley

[parsley]

Flaman was an active advocate of supporting/defending the Board policy of attending the Liberal fundraiser.

I have the letter.

Want more of the same?

Do nothing, and you're guaranteed to get played the same election waltz.


Or dance with Mary:

Mary Dawson
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Office of the
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Parliament of Canada
66 Slater Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

[parsley]

The CURRENT CWB Code of Conduct says:


"Contributions in the form of goods and services for political events are also permitted on a limited basis."


Friends don't stick you with the bill.

Parsley