So Choice Matters?

[silverback]

I just checked into the choice matters web site on ropin the web.

After reading the nice intro from the ag. minister, Shirley Mcclellan, I just had to wonder how much it is costing the taxpayers of alberta to maintain that very nice web site?

A brief look at the latest news and feature stories seems to show that the big choice we were hoping for has changed into a wait and see as to what Chuck Strahl will do for us.

In all due respect to the people running the site, I don't need to know how low our prices are compared to montana, or how big the stress bonuses were for the CWB employees.

So I have to ask (Charlie?), where are we at in ab in regards to getting some marketing choice? Has this always just been about keeping the rural people interested in the pc party?

How long has it been again since the first plebicite on marketing choice? How much money has gone out the door to support this program with not one ounce of result that I can see?

I have hope that freedom is coming, but until I know that I can't be jailed for hauling my own grain to the US, would it not be smart to make sure that Albertans will get the choice they want?

Soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is the hold up???????

[charliep]

Realizing you are talking to a techie (someone who puts together the information and provides the market implication perspective) and not a politician/policy guru, I can give some thoughts.

The cost to Alberta tax payers of setting up and running the Choice Matters website is miniscule. Other elements of choice matters cost more but relatively cheap in the overall scheme of things. I would suggest the Alberta tax payer dollars are substantially less than what the CWB spends of farmer dollars. Todays Price Waterhouse Coopers study did not come cheap. Farmer organizations who have have a different point of view than the CWB do not have the resources to get their ideas presented.

I will leave the shoulda, coulda, woulda questions to discussion - you as members of farm organizations and individual voters have a far bigger role than I have had. I will note that Alberta efforts have pushed the CWB to make changes. With no Alberta effort, would western Cannadian farmers have access to things like the fixed price contract, a daily price contract, etc. I note the programs announced before Christmas (which everyone in this discussion group/out in the press seems to have ignored). The CWB seems to have to be pushed towards change. Others may disagree with this comment.

People will tell you I am not a long term thinker and mostly like to concentrate on the job at hand. To me, the next job at hand is the barley plebescite. What will be important is engaging the farm community in a discussion and in making sure no one sits on the fence/everone participates in the vote.

[silverback]

So...

Yes or No.

Is there any way that Alberta grain farmers can ever get out from under the CWB monopoly on export of wheat or malt barley?

If the answer is "maybe", what will it take to get it going?

[charliep]

silverback

What you are saying is that things aren't happening fast enough. Just so you understand, I recognize this.

The barley answer would be yes with a positive vote on the upcoming plebiscite.

After that, the only other comment is that it is federal legislation. What are the plan "A", "B" and "C" for all the things that could happen over the next year or two? Likely don't know and if I did, couldn't say for the same reason you won't have a CWB staff member commenting on their strategies. The farm organizations are partners so be involved here is a good way of learning about/providing direction to government.

[craig]

Silverback
I'm not sure where your coming from. The province has no jurisdiction over federal matters so how are they suppose to act. Are you suggesting that we should be moving to remove Alberta from the designated area.Maybe this is an area that hasn't been looked at. If a province such as Ontario has it's own rules then maybe that is what we should be seeking.I agree with Charlie that pressure on the CWB does yield results.You can argue whether the results are effective because the CWB has a knack of implying it is doing more than it actually does.However we are likely better off than we were before.

[silverback]

I guess I was under the impression that the gov't of alberta was asking what we wanted to do back in 95? (and every year since) with the plan being that we would get out from under the cwb if we asked for it. I think we asked for it several times over.

If this was never going to happen, I am wondering why so much time, money (how many mailers have I seen?), and propaganda has been spent on it. I don't recall anyone saying we were just going to try and change the pricing options at the cwb.

I know it is federal legislation, but I thought we were going to take a stand for once.

I guess not.

[craig]

Silverback
If nothing happens this time around then I would suggest that we push the provincial government for a vote to opt Alberta out of the designated area. Everyone is so set on a farmers vote and we will live by what the results. If Ontario has the right to decide it's future then so should we.

[craig]

Silverback
If nothing happens this time around then I would suggest that we push the provincial government for a vote to opt Alberta out of the designated area. Everyone is so set on a farmers vote and we will live by what the results. If Ontario has the right to decide it's future then so should we.

[parsley]

craig,
I'm surprised Alberta doesn't demand to bypass CWB marketing and pooling right now.

No immediate changes needed in the Act as did CrestonWyndell, but later on, the divorce can be recorded by a willing Parliament, as was Creston Wyndells.

Parsley

Parsley

[wmoebis]

Does the Creston area grow and sell wheat under CGC grade names IE: cwrs or do they grow and sell non registered varieties like Oslo.

If so how is this grain kept separated from our board grains?

[craig]

Since when was Oslo a non registered variety.