<b>In response to Mr. Stewart Wells</b>
I have always supported organic farming and see it as one of the great opportunities for Western Canadian agriculture. That is why I was extremely puzzled when Mr. Stewart Wells claimed that I had attacked him in the House of Commons when I said he was, get this, an organic farmer. It was a very strange response from him and the NFU. Organic farmers (Mr. Wells included) have this year gotten what amounts to a zero buy back from the Canadian Wheat Board. They are then able to market their own grain and have been able to take full advantage or a rising market. I have been told that quotes for various types’ organic grain have been between $10 and $25 a bushel depending on the class.
Unfortunately, this tremendously positive opportunity is not available to the 98 per cent of farmers who grow regular grain. Many of them would love to have the possibility of marketing their own grain.
Since the beginning of the crop year Mr. Wells has been silent when asked why should he get an opportunity which is denied to other farmers. He is basically working under a free market system and able to take full advantage of that, while demanding that the vast majority of farmers be denied the same opportunity. Why has his organization failed to speak out against the Canadian Wheat board’s unfair treatment of farmers?
Mr. Wells should not be telling others they need to be bound by the CWB system while he is getting a deal on the buy back and is free to sell his grain into a premium market.
David Anderson, MP
Cypress Hills-Grasslands
I have always supported organic farming and see it as one of the great opportunities for Western Canadian agriculture. That is why I was extremely puzzled when Mr. Stewart Wells claimed that I had attacked him in the House of Commons when I said he was, get this, an organic farmer. It was a very strange response from him and the NFU. Organic farmers (Mr. Wells included) have this year gotten what amounts to a zero buy back from the Canadian Wheat Board. They are then able to market their own grain and have been able to take full advantage or a rising market. I have been told that quotes for various types’ organic grain have been between $10 and $25 a bushel depending on the class.
Unfortunately, this tremendously positive opportunity is not available to the 98 per cent of farmers who grow regular grain. Many of them would love to have the possibility of marketing their own grain.
Since the beginning of the crop year Mr. Wells has been silent when asked why should he get an opportunity which is denied to other farmers. He is basically working under a free market system and able to take full advantage of that, while demanding that the vast majority of farmers be denied the same opportunity. Why has his organization failed to speak out against the Canadian Wheat board’s unfair treatment of farmers?
Mr. Wells should not be telling others they need to be bound by the CWB system while he is getting a deal on the buy back and is free to sell his grain into a premium market.
David Anderson, MP
Cypress Hills-Grasslands
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