Democracy Lovers

[Fransisco]

I guess it shouldn't be surprising but it is still galling to see how many of the die-hard majority rule folks now suddenly don't believe in democracy.

They have no use for property rights and said time and time again, lets have a vote. Well we did and choice won, live with it, at least stick to your own principles.

A notable exception is David Rolfe from Kap, he is accepting the results.

[chaffmeister]

What is even more galling is Ritter's approach.

Says he's not surprised by the plebiscite results; says they're consistent with the CWB's own surveys they've done for years now.

But then he goes on to say that the CWB is pursuing legal avenues to fight the government decision to give farmers what they have said they want - choice. Spending your money to stop you from getting what you've asked for.

[Fransisco]

It's back to the elitist default position. We(Ritter and company)know best and the rest of you don't matter.

Rights don't matter, evidence doesn't matter, democracy doesn't matter, respect for others doesnt matter.

This is getting down right pathological.

[parsley]

National Post
29 March 2007
Financial Post

Wheat Board may challenge loss of export barley monopoly; Ottawa vows changes

WINNIPEG - The Canadian Wheat Board will consider all options -- including a legal challenge -- to respond to Ottawa's plan to end its monopoly on malting and export barley, the chairman of the CWB's board of directors said yesterday.

Chuck Strahl, the Agriculture Minister, said he plans to remove the CWB's monopoly on malting and export barley sales by Aug. 1 through regulatory changes, but Ken Ritter said the board's governing legislation would require Parliament to examine and vote on such a change.

"Our initial reaction to the announcement today is this isn't one of the legitimate ways you can change the law of the country," Mr. Ritter told reporters. "You cannot change the CWB's mandate through a change in regulation."

Earlier yesterday, Mr. Strahl said he believes the government's plan could withstand legal challenges.

"I think it's quite clear we can do it by regulation. The legislation takes that into account," Mr. Strahl told Reuters.

"We also think that the plebiscite gives us some more moral cover, if you will," he said in an interview.

Mr. Strahl released results from a non-binding farmer vote yesterday that showed 62% wanted the CWB's monopoly to end.

Mr. Ritter said the Aug. 1 start for the open market would disrupt barley markets, and noted that the CWB has made barley sales beyond that date.

"We didn't have a view that they would be approaching this in this giddy up go fashion and make a precipitous announcement like they have today," Mr. Ritter said.

The CWB has said the agency may bow out of the barley business if the monopoly is ended because it does not own handling facilities and may not be able to compete with grain companies.


Note from Parsley:

What is interesting is that at present,as well as traditionally, the CWB, through a quiet Board motion,and with no change in regulations, and with no change in legislation, simply grants licenses to whomever the Boards wants to grant a license to.

These Directors need to resign. They are hypocrites of the worst kind.

Absolute hypocrites.

[Jay-mo]

Note to Strahl, fire Ritter.

[Fransisco]

...and Toews

[craig]

It's interesting that one day the CWB is distancing themselves from government saying that because we are not a crown corporation certain rules shouldn't apply to us. Yet the next day they say only changes can be made through parliament. Another example of how we interpret the rules to serve one own self interest.Parallels how it seems the board is issuing new court challeges almost daily against the government while at the same time looking for special favors from this very same goverment on an on going basis.

[ridgie]

hear hear..........

The CWB supporters, along with the NFU and Saskatchewans own Ag minister Mark Wartman have a real warped sence of the "RIGHT TO SELL ONE'S OWN PROPERTY."
I keep hearing them talk about "DEMOCRATIC PROCESS."
This is something the Liberal,NDP,CWB camp should go back to grade school to learn the true meaning of.

[wd9]

Strahl fire Ritter, interesting question. AFAIK corporate law dictates that only the members and/or majority of the board thru a motion. Given the fact the CWB doesn't seem to follow any of the normal rules, I wonder if the minister can do this? Parsely, Chaff, Tom4CWB, how is your theory on CWB board governance?

[rockpile]

Does this also support the restoration of rights and the ownership of all that is under my land, right to the core of the earth, which otherwise have been confiscated by Her Majesty? Of course, I am talking about full ownership of mineral rights. Or is this just weasel talk?
Rockpile

[parsley]

The CWB Act tells you:



"Chairperson

3.04 (1) The board designates one director to be the chairperson and may fix the remuneration of the chairperson.

Duties

(2) The chairperson performs the duties conferred on the chairperson by the by-laws, calls and presides at meetings of the board and determines the agenda at those meetings.


Absence or incapacity

(3) If the chairperson is absent or unable to act, the board may designate one of the directors to act as chairperson"


If I was MInister, I'd ask for a written opinion on incapacity. I think that would do the trick.

Parsley

[parsley]

rockpile, it's nice to have you back on again. I rather missed our set-toos!

Are mineral rights different in every province?

Parsley

[mustardman]

Francisco
I said it before the "questions" were ever released that if you want a "CLEAR" answer , ask a clear question. Consequently we have SKEWED results or garbage in - garbage out-
Question 2 Should not have been there!!

1. 38% for Single Desk
3. 14% for No CWB
So what do we do with the results of Question 2 which was picked 48% of the time??

Maybe take 1/2 of it and add to each of #1 and #2 ??
In that case 38 24 = 62 % CWB
versus 14 24 = 38 % open market

or do we just eliminate it altogether. So we then have 38% Singledesk
14% Open Market

TWO QUESTIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKED AND TWO QUESTIONS ONLY. You then would have people Respecting the results as well as respecting the Ag Minister.

As it stands now I think Mr. Strahl either couldn't organize a 2 car parade
OR He was intenionally trying to mislead the voters.

[silverback]

Maybe you should be asking where 50000 pro cwb producers disapeared to off the voting list rather than moaning about the oh so confusing questions.

Do you like cheddar? brie? gouda?

[TOM4CWB]

Mustardman,

Clearly my dear wife was astounded by the information that was included with the plebiscite ballot.

While it did not surprise me that Honourable Minister Strahl allowed the biased and false information Murry Fulton included "...large voluntary pools do not exist for grain in any of the of the grain producing countries..."

Agricore United has a large dry bean pool in Alberta (it markets over 50,000 acres of irrigated production) that has been serving our pulse growers for decades. It is voluntary, and has withstood the test of time... and competition...

This pool comes out on top by producing grower loyalty and good will as its principal attributes.

THere are many pools in the Pedigreed Seed business that run without difficulty and with integrety.

All that is needed is trust... to market grain through a pool.

It is a crime the majority of CWB Directors have breached this trust, and destroyed millions of dollars of good will the CWB had earned... as was evidenced in the plebiscite itself!

It would be foolish to give the CWB one cent or grain of barley or wheat... with the present DIrectors in charge.