PC Leadership

[WRAPper]

I thought he might have gotten the US ambassador position.

Global news this evening said one reason he was so high in the polls is due to the name recognition.

I imagine Dinning is sweating some if Manning does have some of his Cowtown support.

Global was also referring to Manning's HANDLERS !!!!! GEEZ, this is Alberta for godsake !! Since when do people need handlers !!!!

[WRAPper]

What Emerald you don't have handlers everyone in power or hoping to be has people who manage their moves, look what happened to Ralph when he lost Rod Love he had the wrong handlers I suspect. Heck even I have handlers who call all the shots with me,mine are 7 and 4 however.

I think that's another reason I wouldn't have much support for manning if he decides to go, one of his "handlers" or supporters is John Schmal, he of the no packing plant in my city when he was an alderman in Calgary fame.

I don't think manning or his handlers would be much good for agriculture in Alberta and thats no good for me.

[cowman]

Ivebinconned: Well Reform was what I thought was the last kick at the can! And yes it did divert the seperatist movement...no doubt about it.
I remember being at the local Reform nomination forum and guess what? All the old boys who had been in the Western Canada Concept were there! The whole thing shifted to Reform! All the executive, all the members!
By the time Reform had morphed into the Alliance I was sick of the whole thing.
But what are you going to do? I am not a Liberal or NDP supporter...no matter what! I believe in free enterprize and smaller government, and am probably considered a social conservative, although I like to think I am a Libertarian!
I am a seperatist but so far that isn't working too well, so you go with the best option available under the present circumstances? If that is Stephen Harper, federally or the PC party in Alberta....then that is my best bet for looking after my interests? By the way I voted Alberta Alliance last provincial election.
And yea I guess I am a Manning zealot, mostly because of his father. Probably not rational. Just my opinion.

[cowman]

I don't think that Preston Manning is in touch with rural Alberta at all. I hope he doesn't let the media hype push him into running.

[ivbinconned]

Thanks cowman.

Some of Mannings actions in the past were not well publicized because they fit well into the Machiavellian way of doing things. The liberal media has no problem with this, in fact they love it, and so didn't dwell on it.

But as time went on more and more observant people recongnized this and that is why he was turfed. You don't take the time energy and money of the "consevative" reform minded people of western Canada and then bring in the likes of the liberal Rick Anderson to handle your image...and not pay the price.

But he did not learn. In a dispicable juvenile fashion he set out to destroy that which he had helped build. It was a childish replay of that eastern MO of, if we don't run it we will not support it!

Dalton Camp would have been impressed!

At any rate, Stock, or anybody else, could not have withstood the onslaught that was engineered by Mannings people, one of which is our Ag minister. A position that will lead to the demise of Chuck Sraul. Harper is not so dumb.

Ray Speaker, in Winnipeg 1987, describe the process that has been used by Manning from day one. If the people are not, in their thinking, where you are, then you slowly mold and influence them to your way of thinking, and through this process stay outfront leading. It works for a while...but the chickens will come home to roost.

Now when talk of seperation and firewalls are being heard once again, when Alberta's "elephant in the room" wealth is becoming the talk of national interest...here comes Manning to once again lull Albertans into a sense of well being. Issues are being taken care of. Lets get back to work.

A deflection again!

Many will choose to EXCUSE and ignor Mannings past, and will make no attempt, to defend it.

[Vader]

Horner said.

"Our industry's sustainability is dependent on improved market access, the elimination of export subsidies and substantial reductions in production and trade distorting domestic subsidies of other countries," he said.

I disagree. The world has consumed more wheat than it has produced for seven of the last eight years. Is trade the reason why prices are low in spite of this shortfall? I think not. The problem is 135 million metric tonnes of inventory around the world. No trade liberalization will improve grain prices as long as this surplus inventory exists. We need to target this inventory and put a "stick of dynamite" under it.

What I really wonder is where in the world is this 135 million tonnes. In Canada we only have a carry over of about 6 million tonnes. On the surface that is insignificant. However when you consider that Canada is responsible for about 20% of world trade in wheat and when you also consider that world trade is only 100 million tonnes per year it becomes apparent that a significant amount of this surplus must reside in the consuming nations as opposed to exporting nations. (Contrary to what I am always hearing).

Perhaps if Canada's 6 million tonnes were to disappear from the market the buyers of the world might consider a 6% reduction in available inventory for purchase to be significant. In fact depending on how much of the 135 million tonnes is in exporting versus importing countries 6 million tonnes might be an even larger percentage of tradeable supplies.

My mission at the next CWB board meeting will be to examine the question of "where in the world are the available wheat supplies and how large are they".

As Canada moves to meet its biofuel committment perhaps we can eliminate our share of the exportable surplus.

Rod

[silverback]

Another question would be, "If there are stockpiles of Wheat around the world, where are they and who is paying the storage for that grain?" Does it turn over or has it been sitting for 5 - 10 years? Can the whales or cod eat wheat if we dump it in the ocean.? lol

[Incognito]

Your mission should be to decide how the CWB will operate in a dual market environment.

Canada's trade of wheat ex durum has fallen to 14% to 16% - not 20%. Time to get the briefing notes updated.

http://www.igc.org.uk/gmr/gmrsummary.htm

Global stocks at end 2006/07 are forecast to fall by 17m. tons to 119.m., including 45m. (52m.) in the five major exporters.
___________________________________

Knowing the above, what direction has the CWB taken?

Those are responsible questions you should be asking - not where is the frikkin 135 million tonnes of wheat in the world.

Google it - for goodness sakes.

[TOM4CWB]

Vader;

How Ironic that the CWB has been holding stocks of Wheat and Durum OFF the market... which has what effect?

Increase STOCKS.

The effect is to create opportunity for others around the globe; who would not otherwise look at growing the wheat and durum if it was not withheld... to fill that market gap.

Market distorting... a subsidy to domestic consumers; WTO issues for sure.

THe CWB is not required to pay interest on the stocks they force us to hold, risk or carry inflationary costs that accrue.

ASTOUNDING.

There is nothing in the CWB ACT that even authorises CWB directors to maximise returns be withholding our stocks... unless distorting International trade is a function of "Marketing grain in an orderly manner"!

Talk about being NON COMMERCIAL.

[Vader]

Incognito, where do you get the figure of global stocks falling? I looked at the website you gave and I see this.


SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN 2005/06

WHEAT: Estimated 2005 world production is increased 2m. tons to 617m. with small revisions for several countries. Total consumption is also up 2m. tons at 620m., with increases in Iran, Turkey and Pakistan. Forecast world trade is 1m. tons higher at 109m. tons, reflecting continued strong purchases by Iraq and recent buying by Iran. Export shipments by Argentina, Russia and Ukraine are slowing considerably compared with the first half of the season. Turkey has recently sold large amounts of wheat flour, notably to Iraq. The forecast of global end-of-season stocks remains at 136m. tons, including 52m. in the major exporters.