(Bumped to top with update. Scroll down for response from Canadian Press)
G&M;
“We have a democratic process, and the government is jeopardizing this democratic process. It’s an additional reason why we must condemn what the government is doing,” Mr. Dion said.
There is unity in maintaining the monopoly on western wheat and barley, he said, and even Quebec producers supported the body.
Well, that’s going to strike a chord with western farmers.
Update – Michelle Macafee of the Canadian Press manages to find a real, live, Manitoba farmer enthused about Stephane Dion;
Daryl Knight, who farms near Decker, Man., said he was impressed by Dion’s position on both agriculture and the environment.
“He seems like he wants the whole country to work together, and that’s a refreshing change because agriculture was never mentioned in the past,” said Knight. “Now we’re part of the country, which makes me pretty happy and proud.”
I’m bored, it’s 10:10pm on your dial, so I figure, what the hell, lets Google Daryl Knight ….
I’ve emailed Michelle Macafee and offered her the opportunity to respond.
Update
Dear Ms. McMillan,
Thank you for your e-mail regarding Michelle MacAfee’s story earlier this week on Stephane Dion and the Wheat Board. You’re right – Ms. MacAfee didn’t realize that Daryl Knight had been a Liberal campaign manager in the last election. She did ask Mr. Knight if he was a Liberal supporter and he told her only that he had voted Liberal in the last “couple of elections.” So she was aware of his political leanings and therefore CP was comfortable quoting him in that context. But more to your point: if we had known he was a campaign manager, we would have either included that information in the story or perhaps we might have chosen not to use his quotes at all. Ms. MacAfee attempted to reach Mr. Knight today to ask him why he didn’t elaborate on his connections to the party, but she couldn’t reach him. CP believes very strongly in its role as an objective news service. Feedback from readers like you helps us do our job better.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.
All the best over the holidays and again, thanks for your interest,
Lorraine Turchansky
Prairies News Editor
Canadian Press and Broadcast News
And thanks to Ms. Turchansky for the reply.
What did the agricultural minister know, and when did he know it. Story out that the US has banned wheat from the Australian Wheat Board, and is considering its purchase of wheat from the CWB, and might ban purchases from it. Is that why the minister is trying to get rid of the monopoly, so cdn wheat and barley can enter the US market. What will that do to all the cwb supporters in Ottawa and the media. And they thought the democrats would be good to Canada. Even Bono is finding out they are not friends. Harry Reid said a big no to his request. What is dions reaction to that announcement.
Michael,
It is unbelievable that you call others ignorant when you support the oppression of the rights of those who want freedom to market their own product.
Imagine if your neighbors decided to impose a law on you that you could buy anywhere other than where they said you could. There is no justification for this type of oppression no matter how you rationalize it.
This whole thing is about risk. When prices are high then the CWB is a pain. When they are low well it’s a savior.
Personally I think they should go with the risk. If they want choice a single buyer or multiple choices then that’s ok as long as I don’t have to pay via taxes.
Even those farmers who voted for the Status Quo probably don’t know any different. It’s the way it’s been for their entire lives so it’s difficult to change better the devil you know.
Thanks Kate. I know there are a lot of well-informed posts on these boards. And it’s helped me become more informed.
Yes, I realize Mr. Measner was appointed by government, but if I’m not mistaken he was recommeded to the post by a farmer-elected board of directors. And did the board of directors not recommend him to the position because the majority of prairie farmers supported the single desk? I’m open to correction on the details, but this still seems to make the Conservatives position anti-democratic. I’m not saying they have no jurisdiction to fire Measner, and I’m also not saying they’re wrong to do away with the single-desk (the majority isn’t always right). But it’s still against the will of the majority of farmer’s to whom the Wheat Board happens to be accountable.
Just looked at the results on the Wheat Board Election. Of the districts that voted (1,3,5,7,9) 4 of the 5 directors elected were CWB single desk supporters.
District 1 (voted for Dual Market)
Overall Response Rate – 53%
% who voted for Dual Market – 56%
Winning % in comparison to
total eligible voters – 29%
The remainder of the Districts voted for the Single Desk Option:
Overall Response Rate – 51%
% who voted for Dual Market – 61%
Winning % in comparison to
total eligible voters – 31%
The gist of my post is that just over half of the farmers eligable voted in the election. The percentages show that there is not overwhelming support for the CWB retaining its monopoly. But that the supporters are doing a better job of getting their people to mail in their votes.
Just looked at the results on the Wheat Board Election. Of the districts that voted (1,3,5,7,9) 4 of the 5 directors elected were CWB single desk supporters.
District 1 (voted for Dual Market)
Overall Response Rate – 53%
% who voted for Dual Market – 56%
Winning % in comparison to
total eligible voters – 29%
The remainder of the Districts voted for the Single Desk Option:
Overall Response Rate – 51%
% who voted for Dual Market – 61%
Winning % in comparison to
total eligible voters – 31%
The gist of my post is that just over half of the farmers eligable voted in the election. The percentages show that there is not overwhelming support for the CWB retaining its monopoly. But that the supporters are doing a better job of getting their people to mail in their votes.
Thanks ADUNE for the reply.
I understand the need to have a supply of food for ourselves, but why does the government have to intrude in the day to day supply of of it?
The Marketing Boards dictate how much and at what price a farmer can produce. Is that fair?
In a market economy, the rules of supply and demand should apply, just like any other industry.
The fact that government has to control it smacks of socialism at its worst.
If we were at war or some catastrophic situation became us, then yes, until the situation came under control. But to dictate who can, and cannot produce milk, cheese, pork, eggs, beef etc. for sale is not acceptable to me.
Here, in Ontario, a farmer is being vilified because he produces and sells raw milk. While I won’t drink the stuff because I have never had it and would probably get sick from it, why should he not be allowed to sell it to those who have an affinity for it?
Yeah, Michael, Alberta elected and recommended its senators-in-waiting…
Recommendations and suggestions are simply that.
Lovely, that. Isn’t it always funny how they manage to find those with Liberal Party connections to mention in their stories.
Now only if there were a Canadian equivalent of Fox News…..
Posted by Doug at December 21, 2006 04:19 PM
Well, the closest thing to that is perhaps SDA…
It’s a good start.
I said it before, I dont care if 99% vote for a single desk, if its mine its MINE! NO one else has a say. Otherwise it just communist control…
Meachael and other like him pretend they are using democratic principals but in fact are using the tyrany of the majority to oppress those that want freedom. He and others like him will never respond to the question: “Would you allow your neighbors to dictate to you where you can buy your farm supplies such as chemicals or even your farm truck?” They rationalize their oppression with the collectivism ideal of communism when its suits them. “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy” (Winston Churchill) They adhere to the “gospel of envy” so tightly they will strangle themselves in the process.”But at least were all equal.”
UGH……….
Let the farmers opt in to the wheat board if they want to
If the board is good it will do well against any competition.
Where is the problem with making it optional??????????????????????????
G Atric. Most, if not all, Govmits of the world control food production and supply in one way or another. There is no such thing as an ‘opened market’.
The Europeans have CAP(Common Agricultural Policy).
The Japanease have The Japanese Food agency.
The Ausies, AWB.
Argentina taxes, yes taxes, grain exports.
Same with Brazil.
USSR, East Block.. quagmire of controls.
USofA has the USDA, the biggest bear in the market. Pays farmers to grow grain, pays them not to grow it ect.
Canada, well what can we say. Supply Management-clamps. Grain(other than CWB) is allowed a so-called free-market within-a-range.
Have we ever seen the govmit allow any major grain to be completly sold-out ?? Even when we have a very small Canola, crop exports seem to majically slow down so that we end up with some carry-over. Tight(~0.75M-Tonnes), but enough to hold down prices and guarantee Canadian’s supply. Ever hear of millions starving in other parts of the world ?? You got it.
Carry-over controls prices, not S&D.
Govmits of virtualy ever country in the world view food as simply too important to be ‘left’ to the market place. Period.
If one should want to operate in a completely free market business, try motor boats.
I think that Eskimo probably has it right. The posturing and noise making is to make sure that 30-40 years of unmarked graves will not be dug up by the Auditor General’s office.
The Gun Registry with the smoke and mirrors has people thinking that it was a police state thing. NOT, it was a Liberal rip-off. Hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars stolen by those thugs. Dion was the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs Chair at the time. Y’know, the guy that tracks what the Intergovernmental activity is. Yep, thassa m’boy
Dion is just another slice off the Liberal loaf. Look at who his sponsor is and look at who is back in the news. Cretin,.oops. Misspelled it but I think that I’ll let it stay.
Major criminal organization. The Liberal Party of Canada
Does Dion know that the US is considering banning wheat imports from the CWB. Does he think this will mean great riches for eastern farmers and western farmers in the CWB will have no place to sell their grain except overseas. Is that why he is so concerned about our western farmers. Wonder how they would vote if they knew this. Remember they banned our beef and Dion and the liberals did nothing. Mel Gibson uses foreign languages in his films. Is that the language dion uses when he attempts to talk english. Eventually the msm is going to have to admit the truth. dion is a loser because of his english. Reading what he says, via closed caption, really proves it, he can’t use the proper tense, order, or pronounciation. Harpers french is so much better than dion’s english. The english debate will kill dion in all cdns eyes except the medias. Even que voters will be embarassed to allow this person become PM.
not sure where you got that info MaryT.
The US is of course moving to ban AWB import to the US over the kickback scandal with Saddam Hussien and the oil for food program.
I have not heard anything about action against the CWB, nor evidence that the CWB participated in the same kickback scheme. (tho I find it hard to believe any company doing business with Iraq at the time did it without dealing with Saddam)
NAFTA and the WTO would allow us atleast the ability to appeal such a ban.
Farmers should not be forced to sell their own wheat to the CWB, plain and simple. I was sickened when western farmers were jailed for trying to sell their wheat to someone other than the CWB. This is not democracy, it is communism. Why do the Liberals cry about gay rights, but majority rules for the CWB? Let farmers opt out.
The marketing board for dairy products are different from the wheat board in the sense that they only allow a certain number of producers. Anyone who wants to sell these products has to buy “Quota”. This quota sells for huge dollars because it is a guaranteed income. The supply is very tightly controlled and consequently so are the prices. Most of the Dairy farmers in Canada are in Quebec and Ontario and they like their closed little club. I think if you were to look at the bottom line of most dairy operation they are doing well under this scheme. The consumer is probably not getting the best deal.
I don’t know if any of you are old enough to remember the white margarine that came with the little packages to add color. It’s my understanding that colored margarine is still illegal in Quebec. This was done in response to pressure from the Dairy producers.
thanks barcs
Milk costs much, much more in Canada than it does in the USA.
Rip-off Canada, thanks to True-dough and his Librano clepto-cult.
End marketing boards and monopolies now. Up with free enterprise.
Quebec would scheme foul if the milk quota was made proportional to population instead of the automatic 25% they have now.
big quota and cheap western feed. just another subsidy to keep our “cultural heritage”
I should check before I post , Quebec gets 40%, Ontario 30 % , Alberta 6%, it was worse than I could imagine.
http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/admin/books/files/Milk.pdf
FREE.
You are 100% correct. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Democracy and freedom/liberty are two separate things. It has been shown time and time again that sheeple are all too willing to vote away their liberty in exchange for very little in return.
People get all hung up on this supposed “gag order” that has been placed on the CWB saying that it is undemocratic. What is undemocratic is the CWB being able to use farmers’ money (including the money of those 50% or so farmers who don’t support their monopoly) in order to spread their propaganda and fear tactics. Because we don’t have a choice they use our money to fight against those of us who value choice in order to save their jobs (otherwise known as places at the gravy trough). The CWB is a government entity and shouldn’t be allowed to use public money to tell all about how good it is – it is essentially an extension of bureaucracy and has no business in this argument (as the East of Canada should have absolutely no say in this argument). The CWB reminds me of a big union – running around trying to justify its existance with retoric and fear mongering.
well here’s mr knight: look under ‘western farmers’ a couple scrolls down.
http://blackrod.blogspot.com/2006/01/exhibit-f-brandon-reporter-turned.html
Ah yes that intellectual backpack toting miniturdeau will save the country from the evil free marketters. Oh please come soon Stepon Rapunzel we need another french asshole to rape this country for what is left of the few remaining billions left that have not yet been stolen by the slimy lieberals. More self loathing lieberals is just what we need in this country. A lieberal hates himself more than he can hate a conservative, they should be charged with a hate crime against themselves if it wern’t so dam funny to watch their contorted faces as they so ‘tolerantly’ describe Stephen Harper and his evil plot to topple one more pillar of turdeaus ussr. the wheat board.
when i farmed the usda could alway’s find another billon bushel’s of what ever crop was in shorty supply. when we grew oat’s the board which had control at that time said there was no market. the board was paying .78 cent’s . we recieved 2.65 on the free market, where price’s have basicly stayded. off board feed wheat is higher than on board #1 threw the board. average age of farmer 58? have coffe with these guy’s. they don’t like the board but are scared. that this is all they have ever known. open the book’s let all farmer’s see the profit’s made all oppostion will be gone!
”Now only if there were a Canadian equivalent of Fox News…..
Posted by Doug at December 21, 2006 04:19 PM
Well, the closest thing to that is perhaps SDA…
It’s a good start.” Canadian Sentinel
We distort, you deride?
Talk about damned with faint praise.
One of our neighbours had a dairy farm. If his good cows produced too much it was dumped down the drain. What a waste! But he would be financially penalised if he was over ‘quota’. He was up to his neck in debt trying to get enough quota…eventually lost everything.
One of our neighbours had a dairy farm.(Ontario) If his good cows produced too much it was dumped down the drain. What a waste! But he would be financially penalised if he was over ‘quota’. He was up to his neck in debt trying to get enough quota…eventually lost everything.
cal2. Love it in theory. Tougher in practice.
Tho transportation possibilities have greatly improved since the milk board was set up the largest population is still Canada’s heartland. And it is still cheaper (and easier) to ship grain than Milk.
Set aside tho the fact that it is more cost efficient to produce most of it in Ont/Que. And look at industry expansion. Assume 1000 units of production on farms (and your %’s. That would be 400 in Que, 300 in Ontario 60 in Alberta.
Say we have a milk shortage and look to increase production by another 200 units. Do you think it is easier and cost effective to stick in into 700 units down east or increase the Alberta production by 330%? (increasing farm sizes, building new infrastructure, new processing, new farms and buildings to go with.)
Hunter, you’re absolutely right that “farmers should not be forced to sell their own wheat to the CWB, plain and simple.”
Not only is CWB confiscation of farmer’s grain fundamentally wrong, but when you understand the fraud that has been perpetuated for years on farmers, its also illegal. The basic reason is very simple: the CWB is federal legislation under the REGULATION OF TRADE AND COMMERCE, whereas farmer’s own grain falls under AGRICULTURE. Over the years, the courts have consistently distinguished between trade and commerce and agriculture.
In fact, it was the 1974 Supreme Court decision that found Ray Sommerville not guilty, (in flagrant violation of the clear words of the CWB Act). That is why we got the open domestic market in feed grain in 1974.
Today, regarding exports, the CWB is even illegally acting beyond what the Act says, by arbitrarily granting licences to eastern farmers and denying licences to prairie farmers. Licencing legislation applies equally to all exporters and western producer held grain is no more under TRADE AND COMMERCE than eastern farmer held grain. Its outrageous.
Hoax Aware said: “USofA has the USDA, the biggest bear in the market. Pays farmers to grow grain, pays them not to grow it ect.”
I think it’s the USFDA no? And, if I remember correctly, the FDA reigns over all states within the republic, not just 4 states in the upper mid-west as the CWB does within Canada…
One board denies exit – the others deny entry … maybe on average we have a liberal “free market”.
BTW: I am not a farmer – just have farmer kin.
maryjane, if your only contribution here is to insult the privilage you’re offered, then leave. Next time, I won’t ask.
If there’s overwhelming support for the CWB, it will succeed when its monopoly is gone.
If it’s doing such a great job, why aren’t eastern farmers clamoring to sell to the board?
Barcs-it was on the american news this am, before 8.00a.m AB time. Now they wouldn’t lie would they. Probably CNN. Yes, such a decision could and would be appealed, but what would that cost and how long would it take. And what would happen to all the CWB farmers in the meantime, if they could not export for several years. The US will probably try to find a way to recoup all the payout re the SLD. Regardless, it is a question never cosidered by anyone and we should be asking What if. Think of all the things that have happened that we were assured never would. I still have the letter from a former liberal justice minister stating that under no circumstances would the liberals ever allow abortion to be legal in Canada. Wonder if Dion would pay big bucks to get it back. PET was the PM at the time.
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) is a HUGE player in the US grain market and an even bigger player in the World grain trade.
Reagan got into the world ‘grain price war’ in a big way with USDA’s EPP (Export Enhancement Program) in 1986. The world’s grain trade has not been the same since.
The USDA is, among other endeavours, the manager of the American’s grain inventory. Carry/over is used to control US prices and the world’s too. CBOT is by far the biggest and most influential grain market in the world. Control it and you control the world grain trade prices.
The USDA was active as far back as the 70s. During the USSR’s ‘great grain robbery’, the USDA demanded that the ‘free grain trade’ could make overseas sales only after recieving export-permits, from the USDA, thus driving up US inventories and driving down prices.
It is in the US and Europes interests to have very low world grain prices. This keeps other counties farmers from freely producing and taking export markets. The US and European economies can easily afford the huge export subsidies to their own farmers.
Hence the ‘BIGGEST-BEAR-IN-THE-MARKET’ title.
To all the Dion haters in the west: bear in mind that the four western provinces put together have only 92 seats in parliament, while Ontario alone has 106. Mocking Dion and his ideas will not change this fact.
Secondly, I’m not a farmer so I don’t have an opinion one way or the other on the CWB. However, those that complain that it is not democratic are wrong. Democracy is normally the will of the majority, but it seems that what some people want is a liberum veto. That’s silly and self-centered, and it would only result in anarchy. No one is forcing people to farm at a loss. Farmers who don’t like the CWB are free to change crops or quit farming and get another job. I hear there’s lots of work in Alberta…
lberia,
Are we also free to get rid of the union vermin?
lberia, answer me one question. How do you feel about the inequality of Ontarians and Quebecers being able to freely market their wheat but Western farmers cant?
It seems as though you are the self-centered one, willing to allow choice for some areas of the country and not for others….. I wouldn’t characterize the many many Western farmers who want the same choices as Ontarians and Quebecers as “silly”…. and there are a lot of farmers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba who are looking for choice in marketing their grain, this is not an ‘Alberta’ issue, its a ‘Western’ one. They deserve that choice as much as those in Eastern parts of the country.
rd
Hey ural:
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rd:
I didn’t come across any info on Quebec, but my understanding is that Ontario producers voted for direct marketing several years ago.
http://www.choicematters.gov.ab.ca/files/pdf/GrainIndInfo-OntarioWheat(2006).pdf
And as I said before, I don’t care one way or the other about the CWB. That should be for the farmers to decide. My point is that in order for it to be democratic, there should be a plebiscite and it should be a majority decision. Those that can’t abide by the will of the majority are free to sell the farm and find other work. Or are farmers forced to be farmers?
A couple of weeks ago, I heard the Agriculture Minister being interviewed on “The House”, and when he was asked if he would honour a plebiscite that had a majority vote to keep the CWB, he refused to answer the question. So it appears that Chuckie only believes in democracy when it supports his agenda.
lberia,
Thanks for your feedback … but it really didn’t answer my question. What if the majority of Canadians wanted to get rid of all the public service (thats a joke) unions? Would you support the majority vote?
It’s not up to the majority of Canadians, because they don’t belong to the public service unions. Those that belong to the unions can hold their own vote on whether or not they want to be organized…just like it should be up to the farmers who are part of the CWB to decide about their future.
I have to admit that im puzzled by this whole issue.
Do we actually have legislation in this country that denies farmers the right to do as they see fit with the product of their investment and labor?
Seems to me, theres no necessity for a plebicite or vote of any kind. Repeal the law, let those who wish to stay with the CWB sign long term contracts so there will be stability and predictability.
Those who wish to do their own thing will be free to do so.
If any entity has to deny freedom of choice for farmers in order to exist, there is a fundamental flaw in the system.
I have a question about the eligibility for voting for directors of the CWB. It is my understanding that it is only individuals who have sold wheat or barley through the CWB in a certain time period.
From reading information posted here I get the impression that many farmers have not participated in the CWB for a long time by growing crops that are not handled by the board.
Are these farmers able to vote for the directors?
If not the voting process has become totally skewed. Farmers who refuse to participate in the monopoly are still affected by the existence of the monopoly because they cannot get into the wheat and malt barley markets. If they can’t or won’t grow CWB crops they can’t participate in the process.
If I do have my facts straight then this board is kind of a self perpetuating organism. It excludes individuals who don’t agree with it’s policies from participating in the direction of the CWB. Is there anyway of knowing how many farmers grow crops totally outside the CWB? This would tell the real story.
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So how does MacAfee get off trying to tell us Daryl Knight is “just some farmer”, when she knows that he’s a like minded lieberal stooge plant, just like her?
Ural, I have tried to get others like iberia who support the CWB to answer a similar question. They rationalize the oppression of the minority away as long as they are not in the minority. Typical behavior of a Liberal who imposes their communist ideology on others against their will.
Maybe Daryl Knight is really Capt. Jamil Hussein? That could explain why Michelle Malkin can’t find him.
Seriously, the fact that the farmers who left the wheat farming and the business all together didn’t have a say in this CWB election farce. Of the farmers who still grow wheat, the board has been the only thing they have known and to get out from under that security blanket is a big step, even if that blanket has been slowly suffocating you. For them it is a case of the devil you know. Gee, kind of like the health system, eh?
I still say, if this CWB is so frikkin’ great then why aren’t the farmers down east demanding the same treatment?