Will Alberta Marketing Choice end the CWB Monopoly?

[TOM4CWB]

DTN 04/06/01 20:51 MDT Canadian Grain, Canadian Agriculture News Page 8

Alberta Government May Attempt To Get Rid Of CWB

By Shawn Schroter

WINNIPEG - The overwhelming victory of Alberta’s … is sparking speculation that the returning government may try to separate the province from the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB)

…Shirley McClellan, Alberta agriculture minister and deputy premier said that the Alberta government has had the intention to end the CWB’s monopoly on wheat marketing for some time.

“We’ve always said that we feel that farmers can market their own grain and manage their own assets. We’ve always advocated marketing choices,” she said.

McClellan said the Alberta government will continue to press the federal government in order to allow it to enable producers to market their own grain.

“We believe producers should have the right to determine whether they want to sell through the CWB or to market on their own and we’re going to continue to press Ottawa on giving them that choice,” she said.

She added that even the latest changes in the CWB’s policy, designated to bring more accountability to the board, have been ineffective.

“There have been some changes in CWB policy, but even with those changes, the CWB still requires the producer to sell the product into the pool and then buy it back, even if they’ve established their own market and located a buyer. We would like to see that changed.”

Ted Menzies, president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, an organisation dedicated to the dismantling of the CWB, said that the Alberta government now has a variety of options if it wants to end the CWB’s monopoly.


The article then discussed the CWB offset of the buyback, and then Ken Nichol of the Alberta Liberals plus Darin Qualman of the NFU complained that the Alberta government didn’t have the mandate pull Alberta out of the CWB.

WHO Will Be stronger in this battle, the CWB or the Alberta Government?

[parsley]

Ralph Klein very decidedly staked out his position quite a few years ago. He opted for less spending, get rid of the deficit and lower the debt. It was a lonely voice. But filled with common sense. Not too many would disagree with his path or scoff at what he has accomplished.

Obviously, Shirley McClellan is another pioneer in thought and resolution.

Our country needs more people like them.

Parsley

[tpayne]

fawning will get you nowhere!

[parsley]

It worked for the feed mills...they got free export licenses from the CWB by being nice.
Parsley

[cropduster]

tpayne,while the academics are discussing which fancy word to use, Albertans are out feeding the cattle that the crow offset program helped to bring to Alberta.All we need is a government that will help reduce unwanted red tape and Albertans will creat the secondary processing necessary for future sustainability!

[TOM4CWB]

Cropduster,

I think you are absolutely right.

The economic developement that could be brought to Alberta with a CWB offset program would be huge.

Sask. and Manitoba cannot afford this type of program, and it would be in the CWB's best interests to start issuing no cost export licenses for pasta, flour, and farmers ungraded grain tommorow!

The CWB does it for seed feed and Creston farmers, there in no reason to carry this any further, just do it.

Do it or else self destruct?

[parsley]

cropduster, if the CWB offset program is established by the Alberta government, will you think about expanding your operation? You will have a humdinger of a processing industry. Lots of leftovers from processing to feed.

Parsley

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

Here is the Alberta Speach from the Throne on Agriculture:

"Stable Agricultural Communities"


"Maintaining the viability of farms and rural communities continues to be a priority for this government. Recent events like outbreaks of disease and severe weather serve as reminders that safe, affordable food production cannot be taken for granted.

Efforts to develop a long-term strategy for the health, sustainability and growth of Alberta's agriculture industry will be accelerated, based on the insights of Ag Summit 2000. Key among those efforts will be the introduction of a new policy dealing with intensive livestock operations and a renewal of efforts to provide Alberta farmers with marketing choice for their wheat and barley.

The government stands by its commitment to support Alberta farmers in times of need."

I am thankful that now the "renewal of efforts" provides new light that we will finally get back the rightful privilege to sell our wheat and barley to anyone, including the CWB!

I believe it will be a really interesting year in 2001 in Alberta!

[parsley]

This sounds encouraging Tom4CWB. How many farmers are there in Alberta that grow wheat and barley? If the Government of Alberta puts the CWB offsett program in place, this will affect these farmers considerably. How many Albertans have turned down sales because the buyback was so high? The number of buybacks by producers will increase significantly, won't they?

Parsley

[cropduster]

Parsley and Tom4,in Alberta the sky will be the limit if our government will enhance our envoirnment for secondary processing. They have the evidence in spades with our cattle industry!! Our cattle operation is limited by unreliable water and feed supplies but I am confident our MLA,the new Alberta AG Minister,has a suitable project in the wings that will help us there too. Soooo much to do and so little time ,guess we`ll have to import some more good Saskatchewnites!!!!!