Barley prices are dropping on the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange in light of a court ruling that upholds for the time being the Canadian Wheat Board’s barley monopoly.
Cash prices for western barley dropped this morning by about 70 cents a bushel, while futures prices were down $7.50 a tonne.
The price movement comes one day after a Federal Court judge ruled that the Conservative government overstepped its authority with its plan to strip the wheat board of its monopoly on barley sales.
Don Bousquet, a commodity analyst and commentator, says prices were higher because sellers were counting on selling more than a half-million tonnes of barley on the world market without having to go through the wheat board.
Bousquet says that barley will now come from other countries, so the price of Canadian barley is dropping.
Feed wheat is following suit.
Winnipeg Commodity Exchange
Previous.
And “Canada’s New Government” must take responsibility for this clusterf***
If they had just pushed the change through Parliament and dared the Lieberals and the BQ to oppose them under threat of putting Ontario and Quebec farmers under the CWB, we would NOT be in this mess.
But no… Harper had to be his typical arrogant pr*ck self. He’s such an intelligent man. Why is he so DUMB?
djb,
he’s so dumb, now he has the hammer!
if the courts won’t let the gov’t change the wheat board by order in council, then it has to go through parliament. now harper can play the threat of imposing the monopoly on ALL farmers if the LIBS, NDP & Bloc won’t allow dual marketing.
politics really is sick-o
Way to go Calvert and company. Thanks for “helping” farmers out “saving” the CWB. Please, stop now.
Damned shame it’s going to continue to cost the farmers….
If this is Calvert’s way of campaigning out in the country then he has just re-affirmed himself and his party as complete morons.
CALL THE DAMN ELECTION LORNE! I’ll gladly come back from the lake for a chance to kick yer ass at the ballot box my friend!
o/t
just breaking on drudge, more good news from our friends in china:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070801/toy_recall.html?.v=12
aj:
What he should have done in the first place.
“When control freaks lose control”… Next up on Dr. Phil.
And, using the phrase “free fall” is rather hysterical, Kate. Let’s wait a few days and see whether the drop today was a one-time reaction or not, hmm?
Also, who is asking those farmers (like the one I just heard of As It Happens railing against the CWB) “If it upsets you so much to sell through the CWB, why are you growing barley? Why not move those acres to something that ISN’T under the CWB’s mandate, and deny them the income?”
Wouldn’t that be an action consistent with a strong belief in being able to market your own product?
Whenever there’s uncertainly in the market, it falls. This is not unusual considering no one knows what the gov’ts next move will be. The gov’t knew this would happen if they were challenged. A judgement had been made on this before. If they had just done things legally instead of playing politics this wouldn’t have happened. Their legal advice isn’t very good.
“If it upsets you so much to sell through the CWB, why are you growing barley? Why not move those acres to something that ISN’T under the CWB’s mandate, and deny them the income?”
You mean switch to growing POT? 🙂
Well, Tom Flanagan said on CTV Question Period, and in today’s Globe, that Harper will likely be playing more hardball. So this looks like a good issue to force the Liberals’ hand. I just can’t see Dion making the CWB his hill to die on.
DJB,
I guess not being a farmer means that you probably don’t understand that not all areas of western canada can grow the same crops.
Due to differences in climate and growing seasons, some farms are limited to what grows on their land in a profitable way – (sometimes).
For example, land west of Red Deer grows excellent barley crops but cannot grow lentils or durum wheat like they do in Saskatchewan.
What do you think it is like knowing what the rest of the world is paying right now for barley, but having to realize that not only will you not get that price, but that you will have to wait a year or more to get the full payment from your product.
“Well, Tom Flanagan said on CTV Question Period, and in today’s Globe, that Harper will likely be playing more hardball.”
I hope he knows what he’s doing. There are large marketing boards in Ontario and Quebec that are watching this very closely. The Farmers there support their boards and extremely anxious if this is going to happen to them. Especially when Strahl said on open radio they could be next.
djb
why not move barley acres into something not under cwb control.
That in fact is taking place where soiltype,rainfall,length of growing season,heat, frost etc allow such other crops to be grown.
Not all crops can be grown in all areas.
Peas have replaced a lot of barley in the area im familiar with but cant be grown under all circumstances.
I would direct any anger at the parliamentarians opposed to change as opposed to the courts. In a democracy I don’t believe one should be able to circumvent parliament no matter how much I may agree with their position. The judge didn’t say a dual marketing system couldn’t happen, she only said it couldn’t occur without parliamentary approval.
I too support a dual marketing system and this is one area I disagree with the Liberals despite being a proud card carrying member. Still I won’t change my vote over this issue. In addition, the younger farmers are generally less supportive of the Wheat Board than the older ones so in time it will happen most likely.
“There are large marketing boards in Ontario and Quebec that are watching this very closely. The Farmers there support their boards and extremely anxious if this is going to happen to them. Especially when Strahl said on open radio they could be next.”
Strahl said they could be next for what, exactly?
Ontario and Quebec farmers support their marketing boards, it has been said. But surely the *only* farmers who support those boards are those that are already in possession of the gold-plated quota in those schemes.
Pity the poor sod who would like to get into the market, and cannot for the sheer cost, or prohibition on limits to quotas.
The consumer is denied the ability to shop around, as the price of the marketing board product is pre-determined by the board and its quota-holders.
In fact, those quota holders cannot expand their production at will. They are held to what the marketing board determines, and if they over-produce, the product can, and has been, thrown out.
And don’t even get the consumer, or Western producer started, on what special arrangements have been made with Quebec and Ontario when it comes to specific butter, milk, egg product sales, and who can sell them across Canada.
Sourcing those statements by Strahl would be a good place to start. What specifically, and in what context, did he say to jangle the protectionist situation in The East?
Arrogant farmers who think they have a right to their own property deserve to be imprisoned, this is Canada!
Canadians pay a lot of tax to hire government people to manage your life and your property for you, appreciate it or else! Ingrates!
DJB,
I guess not being a farmer means that you probably don’t understand that not all areas of western canada can grow the same crops.
Due to differences in climate and growing seasons, some farms are limited to what grows on their land in a profitable way – (sometimes).
For example, land west of Red Deer grows excellent barley crops but cannot grow lentils or durum wheat like they do in Saskatchewan.
What do you think it is like knowing what the rest of the world is paying right now for barley, but having to realize that not only will you not get that price, but that you will have to wait a year or more to get the full payment from your product.
Sorry to double up.
Well I hope no farmers loose their farms over Harpers incompetent meddling. Especially the farmers who voted to keep barley under board control.
As an Ontario cash crop farmer myself I watch with great amazement at the defending of CWB. To me farmers should have the choice in whom they want to sell to or not, when or where, let me decide. It seems simple to me anytime you have more than one buyer your likely to get a better price for your product.Now you may have work a little harder to come up with a better bid for your crop meaning you may have to phone several grain buyers to see who is paying most that day.I wonder sometimes if western grain growers [CWB suporters] are a little lazy when it comes to marketing preferring to push that task off onto some so called expert grain trader to do the dirty work for them. That way if some body else screws it up royaly you can blame them for whats gone wrong. Any of you readers that have an investment portfolio know how that works.
As far as the Harper Government worrying about losing votes from voters involved with supply management I don’t think they need to, because 95 % of those people voted Liberal in the last election and I doubt that will change in next one. I know because I have family and friends who are heavily invested in supply management [meaning quota: lots of money] and they would not risk it just to vote on princple for a conservative.
…farmer Bill.
Sid,
I work in the ag industry, and have (in Saskatchewan) for the last 14+ years. I understand soil zones , climate zones, etc better than a lot of the people commenting here.
You’re not seriously saying that the people objecting to the CWB monopoly on barley can ONLY grow barley on their land, are you?
Now let’s be clear… I am not in favor of the the CWB monopoly.
I think farmers should be able to market their grain however they want, and suffer the consequences if disassembling the CWB turns out to be a horrible mistake (which is entirely possible).
I think Harper F’d up big time in how he handled this.
But the farmers who are screaming “choice, choice, choice” HAVE a choice. Don’t grow a CWB controlled crop.
Plain and simple. It’s called “market forces”.
djb – it’s clear you have no grasp of good farming practice. It you did you’d know that you’re suggesting something quite impractical.
This post may not be entirely true to the spirit of this conversation but hopefully will spark some new ideas.
I don’t farm but live in a farming community. Yes the CWB must be held accountable for past and ongoing problems. But, some of the very producers using the system should be put under the same light.
If I am wrong in the points to follow I’m certain that all my instances of ignorance will be dissected with all the elegance of a a badger eviscerating a gopher, but here goes anyway.
Why is it we grow some of the best durham wheat but have few or no facilities processing this into pasta or at least flour for pasta?
Our lovely hard and high protein wheat makes excellent flour, how much is being processed here?
As for my limited knowledge of the CWB, was it not set up to ensure that Canadian farmers got a somewhat fair value for their efforts. Perhaps it is time for the CWB to amend it’s focus. Instead of relying solely on the sale of the raw product perhaps the time is ripe for someone with good contacts to become amentor or resource base to help with the product from field to table.
Instead of trying to compete in a market of raw materials that is stacked against us(hello America & the EU)let’s become exporters of finished product.
Instead of whining about things like this, let’s take a “take care of us first” attitude and to hell with everybody else. They need our superior products, so why not milk it for all it’s worth?
Alby, why would any farmer loose [sic] their farm over a reversed ruling? Quit fear mongering for just a minute, and put a stopper on the partisan rhetoric.
The only way any farmers would lose their shirts is if the Libs and the Dips band together to vote down an opening of the regulations in parliament, and thereby enforcing the indentured servitude on western Canadian farmers. After all, we know that western Canadian farmers are not as capable as the rest of the country, and need a marketing board to do all the hard stuff for them.
I recall a study not to long ago that Mark Wartman Quoted “prarie farmers stand too loose $400 million if the CWB were to be eliminated”. Well Mr Wartman I just lost $70,000.00 because of this action and I only farm 5000 acres. If you tally it up. I am sure that it has cost farmers over $4 billion dollars is one afternoon. That is all money that would have been spent in Sask Towns and Citys, I sure hope that you think your investment to the friends of the CWB has helped out your province. Sharpen your pencil because farmers will once again be drawing on that public purse. Also all buisness people should take note that instead of reaping the rewards of my great year you will now have to pay your tax dollars to keep me afloat.
Here’s something straight out of an economics textbook I just happenened to be reading:
“In Canada, wheat farmers can grow as much wheat as they wish. The only catch is that wheat farmers can sell their wheat to only one organization, called the Canadian Wheat Board(CWB). In theory, the idea behind making the CWB the only legally sanctioned buyer and seller of Canadian wheat is to give the CWB monopoly power in the world wheat market. In actuality, the CWB provides less than 20 percent of world wheat exports, so it has no monopoly power. As the only authorized purchaser of wheat, however, the CWB does function as a government created monopsony. The CWB faces the entire supply curve for Canadian wheat crops. Hence, when it alters the price it pays for wheat, the price received by all Canadian wheat farmers changes. Many wheat farmers are pressing for the CWB to be dismantled. They believe that they could earn higher revenues if they were able to sell wheat on their own.”
(Okay it’s an American textbook, so he doesn’t know that eastern farmers are not under the same restrictions as western farmers)
So, the CWB because it controls all the supply, can dictate to farmers what price they will get, and the farmers have no recourse, they are price takers. Without the CWB, they would have choice, and higher profits. I hope they take to the highways with their tractors, I will strongly support them. The Conservatives just locked up Alta, Sask, and Man rural areas. The Ont and Que supply management pigs at the trough are pathetic if they won’t support western farmers. Maybe they should have to sell all their products to the CWB, HA, bet they wouldn’t like that. Even little PEI doesn’t have to sell it’s potatoes to only one buyer, they don’t have to fear getting thrown in jail if they do, could they maybe support our western farmers? Anyone?
I recall a study not to long ago that Mark Wartman Quoted “prarie farmers stand too loose $400 million if the CWB were to be eliminated”. Well Mr Wartman I just lost $70,000.00 because of this action and I only farm 5000 acres. If you tally it up. I am sure that it has cost farmers over $4 billion dollars is one afternoon. That is all money that would have been spent in Sask Towns and Citys, I sure hope that you think your investment to the friends of the CWB has helped out your province. Sharpen your pencil because farmers will once again be drawing on that public purse. Also all buisness people should take note that instead of reaping the rewards of my great year you will now have to pay your tax dollars to keep me afloat.
Muddyboy, farmers who want to start a pasta plant have to sell their product to the CWB, and then buy it back from them to do that, doesn’t make much sense now does it? Kind of cuts into the profits you know. That’s how idiotic the CWB is, they have western farmers by the balls and they keep squeezing. Meanwhile the supply management easterners are laughing all the way to the bank, charging us more for milk than we pay for gas.
This from the CBC story re the Wheat Board decision:
The federal government had argued Ottawa did have the authority to make the change, noting that barley was added to the wheat board’s jurisdiction by regulation, so it can be removed by regulation. That seems like a pretty persuasive argument to me . . . it would be interesting to know why the judge came to the particular conclusion that she did.
to djb: The guy you heard on the radio railing against the CWB said had stopped growing barley because of the CWB, and only grew it this year because of the prospect of being able to sell it himself. The poor bloody dreamer. I was myself tempted grow barley this year for the same reason, but being of mature age, and remembering that left wing influence still prevails in this country, decided that I’ll believe dual marketing when it happens. I seeded no barley again, making at least 15 years since barley has been grown on this farm. 10 years for wheat.
Until now I was in favor a dual market because I felt that pro CWB farmers should have the opportunity to pool their grain if they wished. Recent actions by the Sask Govt., “Friends of the CWB”, The Farmers Union, and others of that ilk have caused me to change my stand on the issue. Nothing short of complete elimination, eradication,and total abolishment of the CWB will satify me. By the way, I would like to grow both wheat and barley as they grow very well here. I just can’t afford to.
Kate, I just noticed, over 6 million. WOW. Keep it up, you GO girl.
Hunter, that was the point I was trying to make. If the producers of the raw goods want to get into processing they should not have to sell their product to the CWB, then buy it back at a higher price. That scenario benefits no one save the wheat board.
I could go on but this sort of thing makes me a bit nuts.
djb , are you suggesting that at this late date they yard it all out and plant something different.
as for free fall, limit down on any commodity would be a free fall. much more of a reaction today than any climate change graph.
FREE THE WEST
THE WEST WANTS OUT
VIVE D’ALBERTA LIBRE
We will take our grin ‘ouse gizzes and go.
The more I learn about the CWB the more I become convinced that it’s a bureaucracy that needs to be shut down.
Like the human appendix … it’s not working anymore and looks like it’s about to rupture from internal infection…. Time for A WCB dectomy
DJB,
If you truly are in the ag sector, please list for us which crops are truly suitable for sustained production in the western/northern regions of Alberta. Then list off the crops that are suitable for sustained production on the heavy clay/dryland of southern saskatchewan.
About the same number of options for farmers in Alberta? No?
You are suggesting that because of some government produced institution, that farmers must change away from one of the best things they can grow on their farms so that it won’t rock the boat.
That is like telling Ford or GM to concentrate on bicycles because there are too many cars out there already.
Are you also saying that it is just too bad that the rest of the world is willing to pay the highest price in years for our product that we should just say “no thanks, the wheat board just can’t pay me enough to grow any, go somewhere else”
Buffalo Bean.
You asked last night: “Sourcing those statements by Strahl would be a good place to start. What specifically, and in what context, did he say to jangle the protectionist situation in The East?”
I was incorrect. It wasn’t Strahl. It was David Emerson, the Trade Minister. It was in the Dec. 21, 2006 edition of the Western Producer. The gov’t issued a press release immediately to confirm their support for supply-management to control any damage. I do not have a subscription to the Western Producer but it was all over the news and blogs. Here’s a link to a government committee meeting that discusses it.
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/Committee/391/AGRI/Evidence/EV2658786/AGRIEV34-E.PDF
It’s easy to find. The Western Producer is in Italics. Here’s part of it.:
“Mr. André Bellavance: That is what I understood. All right.First, I congratulate you on your election, well, your appointment to the position of Chairman. I am sure that you will be able to
continue in the same vein as your predecessor.
Regarding my motion, I call on my colleagues to support it, of course. I think it is important to present my proposal in the form of a motion. Indeed, during the holidays, I was reading The Western Producer, and to my great surprise, I saw that the Minister of International Trade, who is responsible for negotiations with the World Trade Organization, the WTO, was holding forth there. Of
course, the Minister of Agriculture and AGri-food also participates,but it is the Minister of International Trade who is sort of our
standard bearer for international trade and agriculture.
We know the extent to which some of the countries participating in the negotiations attack every aspect of the supply management system. The same holds true for the Canadian Wheat Board. Now, in
the article in The Western Producer of December 21, last, Mr. Emerson was saying that the days of supply management are numbered. We are not talking about a simple quote, a single phrase
where he might have blurted out something about supply management perhaps not being the best idea in the world and that changes had to be made; we are talking about a whole article in which Mr.
Emerson, the Minister of International Trade, is delivering that message.
So, it’s very disturbing. In any case, I think it would be irresponsible on our part not to invite the Minister to appear before the committee to answer our questions, even though we all know that
the day after or a few days after the publication of that article, a press release circulated in which Messrs. Strahl and Emerson said they support supply management.”
The gov’t has since issued numerous statements confirming their support of supply-management, almost to the point of silliness. Even issued a statement explaining why supply-management is completely different than the Wheat Board and why they support one but not the other.
Who do you think benefits from CWB “controlled” prices for grains? Could it be manufacturers of food products? Where are they mostly concentrated – eastern Canada. I see this decision as an effort to control prices so pasta makers etc can keep a good profit margin going at the expense of western grains farmers. KILL the CWB!
Especially the farmers who voted to keep barley under board control.
so you care about the minority who voted to keep it the same but screw the majority who want it to change?
WOW
Hve you novticed the declining rural population since the wheat boards inception?
According to the babblers here,
http://www.rabble.ca/babble/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=009485
Farmer are’nt smart enough
“Have you novticed the declining rural population since the wheat boards inception?”
You mean since 1935? Have you compared the rural decline in the U.S. with ours where no Wheat Board exists?
The population in small towns and rural areas in Canada has increased since 2001. In 2006 just 20% of the Canadian population lived in rural areas.
re comparing with the US Kate had a thread on how of late the Midwest was one of the growing parts of the USA, however I would be surprised to find that they grow as big a % of wheat in the USA as we do here. But I don’t worry as much about what goes on in the USA as here.
Leslie are you saying that when the wheat board sucks money out of rural areas by underpaying farmers that, that hasn’t been a factor in population loss?
I think Manitoba lost about 300,000 rural people since the inception of the munificent wheat board. do tell me what our rural pop went up by since 2001. And, how much of that was “white flight”.
If down to 20% live in rural areas it means the CWB has done a good job right? In fact so good, make the special farmers in Dion’s province and Ontario subject to it! They could use the pay cut it will “make them improve efficiencies.” Now what Lib said that? Darn I forget.
Did Ontarios rural population DROP while they exploited westerners?
“Leslie are you saying that when the wheat board sucks money out of rural areas by underpaying farmers that, that hasn’t been a factor in population loss?”
I said nothing of the sort. I was pointing out that the U.S. has had a steady decline in their rural population since the 1920’s and it has nothing to do with the Wheat Board. There are a lot of reasons for it. The Great depression saw entire familities move to the city. This was at a time when the Wheat Board put money into Farmers pockets in Canada. Flooding displaced many farmers. WWII created factory jobs in the cities, etc. etc. Today, larger farms have overtaken smaller one’s. It was a stretch to blame all rural population decline on the Wheat Board.
“…article in The Western Producer of December 21, last, Mr. Emerson was saying that the days of supply management are numbered.”
Leslie, does the Western Producer offer up the full quote by Emmerson, in context? Their articles are often behind a paid subscription wall. The ‘take’ of an opposition MP will not suffice.
Thank you for your correction on Chuck Strahl.
Now, if we can get what really was said about supply management. I think it would in the context of the WTO, and Canada’s future in a trade deal with other memeber countries.
Other countries in the WTO, are pressuring Canada to relax trade barriers to those products covered by the supply managed groups.
The opposition wants to hide their eyes from what is happening on that end. But it makes good fodder to slam a government looking farther down the road.
And if keeps the public from exploring the truth about protectionism inside of Canada.
Supply managed products, though, are a different cat then the CWB’s *control of one part* of Canada.
If one cannot see that, or will not see that, there is little more to say.
Buffalo.
I do not have a subscription to the Producer. That’s why I siad this and gave you a link to the next best thing I could.
“I do not have a subscription to the Western Producer but it was all over the news and blogs. Here’s a link to a government committee meeting that discusses it. ”
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/Committee/391/AGRI/Evidence/EV2658786/AGRIEV34-E.PDF
—————-
I have not given my opinion on whether supply management is good or bad. This conversation started because Calgary Junkie said “Well, Tom Flanagan said on CTV Question Period, and in today’s Globe, that Harper will likely be playing more hardball.”
I responded that I hope he knows what he’s doing. Even though this effects the West, the East is watching. Especially after what Emerson supposedly said ( not Strahl ) and it does worry them. That’s why the gov’t is so re-assuring to them. I suspect the gov’t is saying they support supply-management because of the votes.
Buffalo Bean: From the Dec 21 Western Producer…
Canada’s supply managed sectors are being put on notice by trade minister David Emerson that their protectionist interests cannot continue to limit the ability of Canadian trade negotiators to win stronger concessions.
He said Canada for too long has pulled back from signing trade access agreements if the trade-off was to open sensitive sectors like dairy, poultry and eggs to greater import competition.
“We’ve got sector sensitivities and we’ve always deferred to this industry or that industry that felt that they couldn’t cope with free trade and so we tended to put aside agreements that were largely in this country’s best interests but because of narrow sensitivities, we just didn’t bite the bullet.
“I’ll probably get hell for this but I can envisage a time where we are just going to have to say to some resistant sectors that there is a national interest and we should work with sectors to see if they can, with some modest support from government, transition to a globally competitive stature or we’re going to just have to go through the painful adjustment.”
Emerson made clear he included supply management as a system that has dictated a Canadian defensive trade negotiating policy at the expense of competitive exporters.
“We cannot for long sustained periods of time be defensive traders or we will wither and die the death of 1,000 cuts. And we won’t win. We can protect but we won’t win.”
The plebiscite on the marketing of barley in Western Canada, starting January 31st, shows how Canada’s New Government is delivering on its commitment to consult with farmers and stakeholders in the region. However, this consultation seems to have reignited accusations from opposition parties and various special interest groups that allege this could be a precursor to a change in the supply management system.
I can categorically say that this is an untrue, irrational and opportunistic allegation. Canada’s New Government understands the importance of the agricultural sector and its supply management system to Canadians.
There are clear differences between supply management and the single desk authority of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). The CWB was created by an Act of Parliament which forced Western Canadian farmers – and only Western Canadian farmers – to sell their wheat and barley through that entity. Yet wheat farmers in Ontario are free to market their wheat in the manner they choose.
By contrast, supply management is a national system that was set up for the elected provincial marketing boards to participate in. Supply management has been proven over the years to accomplish its goals and objectives. It has evolved and become stronger over time in the interests of producers.
Unlike supply management, the single-desk monopoly system of the CWB is far from being universally accepted by the overwhelming majority of producers. For years, Western Canadian wheat and barley producers have told us they want to be able to make their own business decisions. Many of them have said that includes alternatives to the CWB. Once again, this is not the case with supply management, where the overwhelming majority of producers are extremely satisfied with the way the system works.
Supply management and our commitment to giving Western grain farmers marketing choice are not linked. They are two different issues entirely. This government has and will continue to strongly support Canada’s supply management system. And we will do so in a context where we know that there will continue to be real challenges.
Recently, Canada has been encouraged by efforts to revive the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. Canada stands to benefit significantly from a successful outcome to these talks. We know that Canada’s farmers need a more level playing field and stronger and fairer rules of the game for international agricultural trade so that Canadian agriculture can continue to thrive and compete effectively.
That is why the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, and the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, will participate at a WTO Informal Ministerial meeting on January 27 in Davos, Switzerland. At this meeting, Minister Strahl and Minister Emerson will join others in pressing hard to get the Doha Round back on track. If these negotiations resume in earnest, though, we know that Canada – like all WTO Members – will continue to face pressures on interests that are important to us, including with regard to our supply management system. Canada is committed to the WTO, and we are resolved to press for the best possible outcome from these negotiations for our entire agriculture sector. As we seek that outcome, I can assure you that this government will continue to vigorously pursue benefits and new opportunities for our farmers, and also to aggressively defend Canada’s interests – including those important to supply management.
http://www.agr.gc.ca/cb/min/index_e.php?s1=col-chro&s2=2007&page=c0125
It was a stretch to blame all rural population decline on the Wheat Board.
They are a factor, I said they coincide.
If you go to a small town and see the stores boarded up then figure they might not be if the local farmer had an extra 5-40k to spend a year. Think about the munificent supply managed wheat board. they might as well chase people from their homes with torches. Oh wait this was quiet and no one cares about farmers so no one noticed.
but I sure would not be happy getting a 1950 salary.
However, this consultation seems to have reignited accusations from opposition parties and various special interest groups that allege this could be a precursor to a change in the supply management system.
err the farmers are less important then a special interest group?
Behold the burocracy, though shalt never change it, their jobs at the taxpayers expense sacred……
What special interest groups? 15 people in the latte room at the CBC? People who get tax dollars for little if anything in return.
Interesting debate. Has anyone thought of a class action suite against the Wheat Board and “Friends” for loss of income as a result of this decision?
Ken Ritter has known for many years now, thru the CWB’s own polling, that farmers wanted changes made to the marketing of barley in Western Canada.
Ritter ignored and laughed at the farmers who wanted change, he slurred them as noisy radicals, and he refused to make even minor changes.
Strahl should fire Ritter’s sorry a$$ right out the door for dereliction of duty and non-performance of duty worthy of a CEO.
How many shareholders put up with this type of deviant behaviour from their CEO?
Then find a person (Kate, are you available?) who is serious about running a multi-billion dollar a year comapny.
Because Ken Ritter sure in the hell is not.
What kind of business plan is it when farmers do not receive the proper renumeration for the product they were forced to give to the CWB to sell for them?
What kind of seriuous business arbitrairly decides what to pay for the products it gets and when?
And arbitrairly hoses the organic growers?
Ken Ritter wants to be a hero?
Take away all the federal gov’t support from the CWB right now.
Put Ritter’s CWB a$$ in the same economic vice that the hardworking western farmers have theirs in in running their farms.
Make him run a REAL company, not a fake one, where he can run to the Suger Daddy feds to cover up the financial mistakes that the CWB has made over the years.
He’d last 30 seconds at most and then take an early retirement.
Take the gloves off, and pound some economic sense into these CWB doughheads who blindly support the CWB.
It is time that they got a dose of reality of how badly the CWB really performs.
BS and lies don’t cut it for long in the real business world, unlike the fake business world of the crooked Liberal Party of Canada.