Hmmm...
http://www.world-grain.com/news/daily_enews.asp?ArticleID=97690&e=tom4cwb@hotmail. com
"(World-Grain.com, November 03, 2008)
by World Grain Staff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) said recently that the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) should be able to hold onto its monopoly powers over Western wheat and barley for a while longer. The global financial crisis, another minority government, and over supply and declining grain prices are all factors that will likely affect the Canadian wheat situation, the FAS said.
In the national election held Oct. 14, Canada’s conservative government failed for the third time to win a majority and therefore still needs the support of at least one opposition party to pass legislation on the issue. To date, all three opposition parties have expressed their support for the Canadian Wheat Board and have opposed the conservative plan, the FAS noted.
The popularity of the CWB and its single desk seller status tends to increase in times of global economic slowdowns, FAS said. However, the CWB director elections at the end of November have the potential of seeing the number of pro-monopoly directors on the board shift from a slim majority to a minority. If the shift were to occur, the board would likely take the Canadian Wheat Board in a more open-market direction.
Industry analysts speculate that this is less likely to occur now than if elections had taken place in the spring when grains prices peaked. With the world economy slowing, and with big crop harvests facing difficult marketing problems due to a credit crisis, a majority of producers may feel more secure selling through the CWB, thereby limiting the likelihood of pro-free market directors being elected in the November director elections, the FAS said."
http://www.world-grain.com/news/daily_enews.asp?ArticleID=97690&e=tom4cwb@hotmail. com
"(World-Grain.com, November 03, 2008)
by World Grain Staff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) said recently that the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) should be able to hold onto its monopoly powers over Western wheat and barley for a while longer. The global financial crisis, another minority government, and over supply and declining grain prices are all factors that will likely affect the Canadian wheat situation, the FAS said.
In the national election held Oct. 14, Canada’s conservative government failed for the third time to win a majority and therefore still needs the support of at least one opposition party to pass legislation on the issue. To date, all three opposition parties have expressed their support for the Canadian Wheat Board and have opposed the conservative plan, the FAS noted.
The popularity of the CWB and its single desk seller status tends to increase in times of global economic slowdowns, FAS said. However, the CWB director elections at the end of November have the potential of seeing the number of pro-monopoly directors on the board shift from a slim majority to a minority. If the shift were to occur, the board would likely take the Canadian Wheat Board in a more open-market direction.
Industry analysts speculate that this is less likely to occur now than if elections had taken place in the spring when grains prices peaked. With the world economy slowing, and with big crop harvests facing difficult marketing problems due to a credit crisis, a majority of producers may feel more secure selling through the CWB, thereby limiting the likelihood of pro-free market directors being elected in the November director elections, the FAS said."
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