CWB director election reforms

[Jeff Nielsen]

Good day all, Jeff Nielsen here, CWB director for district 2. I fully support what Henry Vos, CWB director in district 1, has written and has brought to light. In a previous thread I have read the comments and have only read a few ideas on how to provide sound basis for reforming the CWB director elections.
Clearly changes must be made, and it would be a lot better if they are done now, rather than just prior to the 2010 odd number district elections. We have seen the government try to make changes just prior to an election and not succeed. By delaying any changes once more, we will no doubt, be faced with the same inadequate process we have now in 2010.
Mr Vos points out how the current system disenfranchises producers of feed grains, pulses and canola, and forces them to sell those commodities to generate cash flow, usually at times of the year when prices may not be best. This ultimately shows the control the CWB has on wheat, durum and malt barley, and how it affects a producers ability to market his/hers other crops.
So my questions to you agri-viller's :
1 - Who should be eligible to vote? what is the minimum requirement? (gross sales? dyed fuel? crop insurance?)
2 - Should there be caps on election spending? be it by the candidate or a third party?
3 - How can the CWB adapt to create and add value to western Canadian agriculture and our producers?
I'll keep it short for now, I know there are many more questions we could ask. If I may, I'd like to see as many as possible responses. Be it for change and support of the current system. And if possible, limit your responses to one each. That way we can get more ideas and move forward, it is our CWB, its our chance to provide direction on how we as producers want the CWB director elections to operate and ultimately how the CWB operates with a strong board of directors.
Thanks Henry for getting the ball rolling!
Jeff Nielsen

[parsley]

Women, blonde, and 5'8 and over, should be the sole voters determining how Western farmers market their grain.

As a side note, we should also determine who will become <p></p>
<p class="EC_style8ptBK"><strong>[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castrato"]castratos for our musicals[/URL]</strong></p>

Central planning is so much fun, isn't it? Parsley

[agstar77]

Was that another blonde joke?

[parsley]

And,do you sing?

[pilpilsner]

Get some lawyers and ...oh nevermind.

[HFL]

Perhaps some sort of system whereby people who are declaring income from the sale of grain on their income tax form get a ballot or a ballot for each ten thousand dollars worth of grain sold.( or fifty thousand ) Let the people that actually sell the grain decide who they want to sell it to. To many dead people voting in the director elections now.

[silverback]

125 tonne of wheat DELIVERED in the past 1 YEAR.

Wheat and Malt Barley growers only.

Colonies get 1 vote.

Multiple permit book holders limited to one vote.

Individual contributors to campaigns only.

2 term limit.

[Hopperbin]

I didn't sell any wheat or barley through the board last year, and probably not next year, I still want to vote.

[Hopperbin]

Land owners collecting crop share rent should not get to vote.

[ado089]

I would like to see a three or 5 year average used and ballots based on tonnes delivered. As far as Canadian value adding, it's simple. If the grain is being processed in Canada the board should keep their fingers out of it, stick to managing the export grains only. But above all I would like to see one thing put in place, ACCOUNTABILITY. Targets should be put in place before each year for comparative pricing to the global average, target dates for volume, and projected expenses. If these targets are not hit there needs to be a damn good reason or heads need to role. Also the regs need to be tightened and reformend regarding grading. We're getting robbed blind out here by grain companies and their ever-growing list of reasons to dock grade. Wheat is only used for so many purposes, the only charateristics that really matter are protein, falling numbers and flour extraction yield, with only a few exceptions how it looks doesn't matter.