Liberals Introduce Legislation to Boost Farmers’ Control over Canadian Wheat Board
January 31, 2008
OTTAWA – The Liberal Opposition today introduced a private member’s bill to reinforce farmers’ democratic control over the operations and jurisdiction of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB).
“Through two painful years of Conservative government, Stephen Harper has used every dirty trick in the book to impose his mean-spirited, right-wing ideology on prairie farmers,” said Manitoba MP Ray Simard who sponsored the bill.
“Mr. Harper has ignored the law, the courts, and Parliament – resorting instead to gag orders, threats, firings, stacked appointments, propaganda, and a grossly manipulated plebiscite to try and kill the Wheat Board. By contrast, this bill stands up for farmers and their democratic rights.”
Mr. Simard’s bill accomplishes three broad objectives. It:
• requires the government to consult the CWB Board of Directors before the government makes any significant policy decisions involving the Wheat Board;
• reduces the number of government appointees to the CWB 15-member Board of Directors from five to three – including the President. The CWB’s 10 farmer-elected directors would be empowered to name the other two appointees; and
• strengthens the existing provisions in Canadian Wheat Board Act which requires that changes to the CWB’s marketing jurisdiction must be made through legislation approved by Parliament, and such legislation must be preceded by both consultations with the CWB and a legitimate vote among producers.
The bill also emphasizes that the CWB’s directors must be consulted on any legislation that makes changes to the Board’s jurisdiction in advance, and the producer vote must involve a clear, democratic, secret ballot on a specific question – not an abstract multiple choice survey about marketing philosophies.
Liberal Agriculture Critic and P.E.I. MP Wayne Easter vowed that Liberals will battle regressive Conservative measures to undermine the CWB and will push for speedy passage of Mr. Simard’s private member’s bill.
“Just this week the government announced its intent to introduce legislation to slowly gut the Wheat Board, without the consultation or the clear producer vote the existing law requires,” said Mr. Easter.
“The only big winners will be U.S. grain corporations and the railways. Farmers’ marketing clout will be destroyed.”
Liberal House Leader and Saskatchewan MP Ralph Goodale, a former minister responsible for the CWB, said the real issue is giving farmers the democratic control they want.
“Our basic point is simple. It doesn’t matter what politicians or bureaucrats think about grain marketing. What matters is what farmers think and want. And our legislation puts the final say in farmers’ hands,” said Mr. Goodale.
“This legislation strengthens democracy and producer control, and makes the CWB less vulnerable to the ideological whims of an abusive government that has shown it simply cannot be trusted.”
http://www.liberal.ca/story_13528_e.aspx
Monday, February 4, 2008
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Ottawa critic at CWB sacked
Ottawa critic at CWB sacked
Sat Feb 2 2008
By Larry Kusch
A Canadian Wheat Board vice-president who was an outspoken critic of the Harper government's tactics in its dealings with the marketing agency was sacked Friday.
Deanna Allen, the board's vice-president of farmer relations and public affairs, had been a thorn in the side of the government as it attempted to end the wheat board's barley marketing monopoly.
Allen said in an interview late Friday that she was "dismissed without cause" by wheat board interim president Greg Arason.
"I was told that Greg had just come in from an in-camera session with the board and that he was to inform me that I was dismissed effective immediately," she said, adding that the news "came as a bit of a shock" and that she had had no inkling that her dismissal was imminent.
Allen would not speculate on the wheat board's motivations for firing her.
Pulling no punches
Deanna Allen's comments have sometimes made her a thorn in Ottawa's side:
"This is one of the most irresponsible things that I think we've had to deal with yet in this whole bizarre dispute that we've had with the minister"
-- reacting to statements by former CWB minister Chuck Strahl last May that barley farmers may default on barley delivery contracts with the prospect of an open market coming soon. May 18/07
"While we've been in the penalty box, they were running a $1.2-million campaign, which was on the single desk and which was casting doubts as to whether the single desk was an appropriate vehicle for marketing at all"
-- referring to a federal print and radio ad campaign last year on barley marketing that occurred during a government gag order on wheat board communications supporting its position. Nov. 28/07
"Is he gagging customers, too?"
-- reacting to charges by CWB Minister Chuck Strahl that the wheat board had acted irresponsibly by posting letters on its website from international grain customers expressing shock at the Harper government's plans for the board. Dec. 13/06
"We get a news release saying the minister is disappointed. Well, we are very disappointed that we had to find out about the composition of the task force by news release"
-- referring to a statement by former CWB Minister Chuck Strahl that he was disappointed the wheat board had not responded to his invitation to name a representative to a government task force on barley marketing. Sept. 19/06
Wheat board chairman Ken Ritter, a Saskatchewan grain farmer, and Arason declined requests for comment Friday.
Allen's dismissal came two days after Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz appointed Australian sugar marketer Ian White as the wheat board's new president and CEO. White's three-year term begins March 31.
The Harper government fired former CWB president and CEO Adrian Measner in December 2006 over his staunch public defence of the wheat board's monopoly on wheat and barley sales.
After Measner was dismissed and replaced on an interim basis by Arason, a Harper government appointee, it was often left to Allen to deliver a stinging rebuttal as the wheat board clashed with the government over barley marketing.
Allen said all her comments to the media reflected the wheat board's point of view. "I wasn't some rogue spokesperson for the company," she said.
On Friday, Measner, now an executive in the private grain trade, said Allen's dismissal would be a shock to the organization.
"I know she's incredibly good at her job. I worked with her for many years. And she certainly knows she worked for farmers and not for the government and was not afraid to speak up," the former CWB president said.
While Ottawa has the power under the Canadian Wheat Board Act to hire and fire the wheat board president, it cannot dismiss lower-level salaried staff. The salaries of all CWB employees come out of the pockets of Prairie grain growers.
A spokesman for the National Farmers Union said his organization would be "very disappointed" by Allen's dismissal.
"We think she's done a real good job under trying circumstances, very professional," said the NFU's Terry Pugh.
However, Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, said Allen treated opponents of the wheat board's monopoly "in a condescending way."
"It was like she felt she knew better than I did what was best for my farm," Jolly-Nagel said.
larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Sat Feb 2 2008
By Larry Kusch
A Canadian Wheat Board vice-president who was an outspoken critic of the Harper government's tactics in its dealings with the marketing agency was sacked Friday.
Deanna Allen, the board's vice-president of farmer relations and public affairs, had been a thorn in the side of the government as it attempted to end the wheat board's barley marketing monopoly.
Allen said in an interview late Friday that she was "dismissed without cause" by wheat board interim president Greg Arason.
"I was told that Greg had just come in from an in-camera session with the board and that he was to inform me that I was dismissed effective immediately," she said, adding that the news "came as a bit of a shock" and that she had had no inkling that her dismissal was imminent.
Allen would not speculate on the wheat board's motivations for firing her.
Pulling no punches
Deanna Allen's comments have sometimes made her a thorn in Ottawa's side:
"This is one of the most irresponsible things that I think we've had to deal with yet in this whole bizarre dispute that we've had with the minister"
-- reacting to statements by former CWB minister Chuck Strahl last May that barley farmers may default on barley delivery contracts with the prospect of an open market coming soon. May 18/07
"While we've been in the penalty box, they were running a $1.2-million campaign, which was on the single desk and which was casting doubts as to whether the single desk was an appropriate vehicle for marketing at all"
-- referring to a federal print and radio ad campaign last year on barley marketing that occurred during a government gag order on wheat board communications supporting its position. Nov. 28/07
"Is he gagging customers, too?"
-- reacting to charges by CWB Minister Chuck Strahl that the wheat board had acted irresponsibly by posting letters on its website from international grain customers expressing shock at the Harper government's plans for the board. Dec. 13/06
"We get a news release saying the minister is disappointed. Well, we are very disappointed that we had to find out about the composition of the task force by news release"
-- referring to a statement by former CWB Minister Chuck Strahl that he was disappointed the wheat board had not responded to his invitation to name a representative to a government task force on barley marketing. Sept. 19/06
Wheat board chairman Ken Ritter, a Saskatchewan grain farmer, and Arason declined requests for comment Friday.
Allen's dismissal came two days after Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz appointed Australian sugar marketer Ian White as the wheat board's new president and CEO. White's three-year term begins March 31.
The Harper government fired former CWB president and CEO Adrian Measner in December 2006 over his staunch public defence of the wheat board's monopoly on wheat and barley sales.
After Measner was dismissed and replaced on an interim basis by Arason, a Harper government appointee, it was often left to Allen to deliver a stinging rebuttal as the wheat board clashed with the government over barley marketing.
Allen said all her comments to the media reflected the wheat board's point of view. "I wasn't some rogue spokesperson for the company," she said.
On Friday, Measner, now an executive in the private grain trade, said Allen's dismissal would be a shock to the organization.
"I know she's incredibly good at her job. I worked with her for many years. And she certainly knows she worked for farmers and not for the government and was not afraid to speak up," the former CWB president said.
While Ottawa has the power under the Canadian Wheat Board Act to hire and fire the wheat board president, it cannot dismiss lower-level salaried staff. The salaries of all CWB employees come out of the pockets of Prairie grain growers.
A spokesman for the National Farmers Union said his organization would be "very disappointed" by Allen's dismissal.
"We think she's done a real good job under trying circumstances, very professional," said the NFU's Terry Pugh.
However, Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, said Allen treated opponents of the wheat board's monopoly "in a condescending way."
"It was like she felt she knew better than I did what was best for my farm," Jolly-Nagel said.
larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Canadian Wheat Board officials deny accusations by ag. minister on barley program
Canadian Press
Canadian Wheat Board officials deny accusations by ag. minister on barley program
Jan 17, 2008
WINNIPEG - Officials with the Canadian Wheat Board are denying accusations by the federal agriculture minister that they're not listening to producers or the industry after introducing a new program on barley marketing.
In a bluntly worded news release issued Thursday, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz called on the board to join a meeting of producers and industry officials in Ottawa Jan. 29, saying there's a "major gap" between what producers and the industry want and where the board is going with its new program.
"It's high time the CWB stops fighting with producers and gets in a room with them to start hammering out real options for marketing choice," said the minister in the release.
Ritz said that the board is forcing the program on the industry by refusing to sell new crop malting barley to maltsters until they sign onto the new program.
The board unveiled the new pricing program earlier this month. It offers malting barley producers a guaranteed, up-front price based on the cash spot market. Farmers would be allowed to negotiate additional terms with grain-handling companies and would also continue to have the traditional option of pool sales, where the price doesn't fluctuate as frequently.
Some grain companies panned the program, saying it could give farmers a lower initial payment and could convince producers to switch crops - which would reduce supply.
Deanna Allen, a spokeswoman for the wheat board, called the tone of Ritz's news release "baffling."
She said Greg Arason, the president and CEO of the board, had already agreed to the meeting in Ottawa before the minister's office issued the statement.
"(It) infers that we're stonewalling, and then also (makes) lavish accusations about us not consulting, not listening and that we are overriding the views of producers," she said in an interview from Winnipeg. "It's just factually incorrect."
Allen said there's no "gap" between producers and the Canadian Wheat Board on the CashPlus option.
"We've met with large groups of farmers in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta just since the beginning of January. Our experience has been that all those farmers want to know more about this program and how it could fit into their operations."
Allen insisted that reaction to the program has been mainly positive, not negative.
"The minister is taking counsel from the Western Barley Growers (Association), who want the wheat board out of barley completely," she said.
Allen suggested the association does not represent the majority of the country's approximately 12,000 barley producers.
She said the program was developed after uncertainty developed in the marketplace last year, as the government moved to end the board's barley marketing monopoly.
Allen said industry players demanded a system that would ensure barley supplies so they could meet their sales commitments, and the board has been told the CashPlus program meets those operational requirements.
She said the timing of the meeting in Ottawa is "curious" given that the agency's board of directors is slated to meet in Winnipeg Jan. 30 - one day after the sit-down in the nation's capital.
"I can only assume that by putting this meeting the day before this planning session that he's looking to influence how that planning session might take place," Allen said.
She said she expects Ritz may be sending a message to the board about a federal government proposal to develop a deregulated North American barley marketing system - an idea she said board officials have promised to consider at the meeting in Winnipeg later this month.
-By Lisa Arrowsmith in Edmonton
Canadian Wheat Board officials deny accusations by ag. minister on barley program
Jan 17, 2008
WINNIPEG - Officials with the Canadian Wheat Board are denying accusations by the federal agriculture minister that they're not listening to producers or the industry after introducing a new program on barley marketing.
In a bluntly worded news release issued Thursday, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz called on the board to join a meeting of producers and industry officials in Ottawa Jan. 29, saying there's a "major gap" between what producers and the industry want and where the board is going with its new program.
"It's high time the CWB stops fighting with producers and gets in a room with them to start hammering out real options for marketing choice," said the minister in the release.
Ritz said that the board is forcing the program on the industry by refusing to sell new crop malting barley to maltsters until they sign onto the new program.
The board unveiled the new pricing program earlier this month. It offers malting barley producers a guaranteed, up-front price based on the cash spot market. Farmers would be allowed to negotiate additional terms with grain-handling companies and would also continue to have the traditional option of pool sales, where the price doesn't fluctuate as frequently.
Some grain companies panned the program, saying it could give farmers a lower initial payment and could convince producers to switch crops - which would reduce supply.
Deanna Allen, a spokeswoman for the wheat board, called the tone of Ritz's news release "baffling."
She said Greg Arason, the president and CEO of the board, had already agreed to the meeting in Ottawa before the minister's office issued the statement.
"(It) infers that we're stonewalling, and then also (makes) lavish accusations about us not consulting, not listening and that we are overriding the views of producers," she said in an interview from Winnipeg. "It's just factually incorrect."
Allen said there's no "gap" between producers and the Canadian Wheat Board on the CashPlus option.
"We've met with large groups of farmers in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta just since the beginning of January. Our experience has been that all those farmers want to know more about this program and how it could fit into their operations."
Allen insisted that reaction to the program has been mainly positive, not negative.
"The minister is taking counsel from the Western Barley Growers (Association), who want the wheat board out of barley completely," she said.
Allen suggested the association does not represent the majority of the country's approximately 12,000 barley producers.
She said the program was developed after uncertainty developed in the marketplace last year, as the government moved to end the board's barley marketing monopoly.
Allen said industry players demanded a system that would ensure barley supplies so they could meet their sales commitments, and the board has been told the CashPlus program meets those operational requirements.
She said the timing of the meeting in Ottawa is "curious" given that the agency's board of directors is slated to meet in Winnipeg Jan. 30 - one day after the sit-down in the nation's capital.
"I can only assume that by putting this meeting the day before this planning session that he's looking to influence how that planning session might take place," Allen said.
She said she expects Ritz may be sending a message to the board about a federal government proposal to develop a deregulated North American barley marketing system - an idea she said board officials have promised to consider at the meeting in Winnipeg later this month.
-By Lisa Arrowsmith in Edmonton
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Adrian Measner interview on CTV
Source: CTV - News/Current Affairs Date: August 05, 2007
STEPHEN HARPER (Canadian Prime Minister): I think the message to the wheat board is clear. The message is farmers want it. Prices will go up. Farmers want high prices, and the wheat board is supposed to get high prices for farmers, so
I hope the wheat board will start working with the government to make sure this is going to happen, because it's going to happen one way or another. Whether it takes a little bit of time or a lot of time, it's going to happen.
ROBERT FIFE: That was Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the wrap-up of the Conservative caucus in Prince Edward Island. For different perspective, we're joined by Adrian Measner who was fired by the Harper government as president of the Canadian Wheat Board for his opposition to the government's policy. Mr. Measner, do you feel vindicated?
ADRIAN MEASNER (Fired From Canadian Wheat Board): Well, not really. They are a little bit two separate issues, but certainly the right decision has been made now. It means that the Harper government is going to have to follow proper
process. I know he says that he's going to continue on, but he may do that, but he's going to have to follow the laws of the land to do so.
OLIVER: Did it surprise you that the court made that ruling? You know, I ask you this in the sense of the Conservative government has always made a big thing about how they respected the right of parliament, and it turns out the
courts saying they actually didn't respect the right of parliament. They were trying to do it through executive order.
MEASNER: That's right. No, it didn't surprise me. With the information I had when I was president of the CWB, it was clear that they had to move it through parliament if they wanted to make changes. But they chose to try the order in council route, and fortunately it was challenged by the friends of the Canadian Wheat Board and by the Canadian Wheat Board itself, and that's been changed and they'll have to follow proper process now.
FIFE: But there's a larger issue here now. I mean the Prime Minister says it's going to happen one way or the other. Why wouldn't the wheat board want to work with the government to try to resolve this issue?
MEASNER: Because it's not really the government's role to make this decision. It's farmers' decision to make. And if farmers want to make that change, that's what should happen. But at this point, farmers have not said that. There needs to be a fair process, an open process to allow farmers to vote on this issue. If they choose to open the barley market up, it should open up. If they choose to keep the single desk, then the single desk should stay in place.
FIFE: Well wait a minute here. There was a plebiscite that farmers voted for, am I wrong on that?
MEASNER: There was a plebiscite, but it was not a credible process. A number of things happened through that process, they put a gag order on the Canadian Wheat Board. They had ballots going out to multiple voters, there was no official
voters list, and the questions they asked, there was three professional pollsters that said they would not ask the question that way if they wanted meaningful results. It was not a credible process. They need to have one and then abide by the results of that.
FIFE: Are you saying that they ran an election that was fraudulent, that you see, something you'd see in some third world dictatorship?
MEASNER: Not something you would expect to see in Canada, yes. There were many, many problems with the election and ltimately the result they got, they added two of the questions together to justify their actions. There needs to be a fair process put in place to allow a plebiscite to happen.
FIFE: But you do have a monopoly, don't you? I mean isn't this issue of giving farmers the choice so they either stay with the monopoly or if they can get a better price somewhere else they can go and sell it on their own. Why, what gives you guys at the Canadian Wheat Board the right to have a monopoly?
MEASNER: Well, the Canadian Wheat Board is nothing more than farmers working together to sell their products, and the wheat board is run by farmer-elected board of directors. So every two years farmers elect five directors to that board. They decide whether they want single desk candidates or whether they want open market candidates, and to date farmers have elected eight out of the ten single desk candidates, so they sent the message of what they want to happen with the organization, and that's what the organization is doing, they're following what farmers want.
FIFE: Well, look, here's what the Conservatives say. They say they do represent western Canadians, and western Canadian farmers and that, for the most part they do it because they send Conservative MPs from farming ridings for the most part
to Ottawa, and the argument I hear from Conservatives is that the wheat board is run by a bunch of bureaucrats supported by the two NDP, you know, slash, slash, wink, wink socialist governments in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and that you guys
are ignoring the will of the people.
MEASNER: Well that's not right. I'm not with the wheat board anymore, but the wheat board is run by a board of directors, and ten of those board members are elected by farmers. So farmers put those board members in place. They're the ones setting the direction for the organization. So if that's what the Harper government is saying, that is not right.
FIFE: So you're not saying that it's, this is a socialistic bureaucratic organization, because that's what they're telling people.
MEASNER: No, it is a farmers organization. It works for farmers. All of the salaries on staff at the Canadian Wheat Board are paid by farmers and it's run by farmers, and you can't explain it any better than that.
FIFE: Let's just look at this whole issue. I mean can we continue with the status quo, and I'm asking you this in a broader context because we know that grain sales, whether it's barley, but all kinds of grain sales are now, prices are really skyrocketing for a number of reasons. And a lot of farmers are saying you know what I can make, get a better buck by selling the stuff on my own. So are we not shortchanging a lot of farmers here by staying with a monopoly situation?
MEASNER: Well, basically, there's been a lot of studies done that show that the single desk selling gets the premium for farmers and gets more money for farmers. There are some farmers that say they can do better on their own. Whether that's true or not, I guess that will depend on the market situation. But ultimately it's up to farmers to decide whether they want to continue to market together or they want to do their own thing. They have chosen to date to market through the single desk, and I think as long that's the direction they want to go that's what should happen. If they choose to change that, then changes can be made.
FIFE: I just want to ask you a personal question, how devastating was it for you to be fired in that way? Can you just give us a sense of what it was like, having the government step in and fire you.
MEASNER: Yeah, well, obviously a very difficult period. Difficult because I was following the directions given to me by the armer-elected board of directors, and the government intervened. They didn't like that direction and I think they made some moves to try and take control of the board of directors, and firing me was one of those moves. So it's a tough period. I worked for the organization for 32 years, certainly have a lot of contacts internationally and in Canada, and know a lot of the farming community. But it was a change, and they had the right to do what they did. They did do it and life goes on.
FIFE: Well thank you very much, Mr. Measner.
MEASNER: Thank you.
STEPHEN HARPER (Canadian Prime Minister): I think the message to the wheat board is clear. The message is farmers want it. Prices will go up. Farmers want high prices, and the wheat board is supposed to get high prices for farmers, so
I hope the wheat board will start working with the government to make sure this is going to happen, because it's going to happen one way or another. Whether it takes a little bit of time or a lot of time, it's going to happen.
ROBERT FIFE: That was Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the wrap-up of the Conservative caucus in Prince Edward Island. For different perspective, we're joined by Adrian Measner who was fired by the Harper government as president of the Canadian Wheat Board for his opposition to the government's policy. Mr. Measner, do you feel vindicated?
ADRIAN MEASNER (Fired From Canadian Wheat Board): Well, not really. They are a little bit two separate issues, but certainly the right decision has been made now. It means that the Harper government is going to have to follow proper
process. I know he says that he's going to continue on, but he may do that, but he's going to have to follow the laws of the land to do so.
OLIVER: Did it surprise you that the court made that ruling? You know, I ask you this in the sense of the Conservative government has always made a big thing about how they respected the right of parliament, and it turns out the
courts saying they actually didn't respect the right of parliament. They were trying to do it through executive order.
MEASNER: That's right. No, it didn't surprise me. With the information I had when I was president of the CWB, it was clear that they had to move it through parliament if they wanted to make changes. But they chose to try the order in council route, and fortunately it was challenged by the friends of the Canadian Wheat Board and by the Canadian Wheat Board itself, and that's been changed and they'll have to follow proper process now.
FIFE: But there's a larger issue here now. I mean the Prime Minister says it's going to happen one way or the other. Why wouldn't the wheat board want to work with the government to try to resolve this issue?
MEASNER: Because it's not really the government's role to make this decision. It's farmers' decision to make. And if farmers want to make that change, that's what should happen. But at this point, farmers have not said that. There needs to be a fair process, an open process to allow farmers to vote on this issue. If they choose to open the barley market up, it should open up. If they choose to keep the single desk, then the single desk should stay in place.
FIFE: Well wait a minute here. There was a plebiscite that farmers voted for, am I wrong on that?
MEASNER: There was a plebiscite, but it was not a credible process. A number of things happened through that process, they put a gag order on the Canadian Wheat Board. They had ballots going out to multiple voters, there was no official
voters list, and the questions they asked, there was three professional pollsters that said they would not ask the question that way if they wanted meaningful results. It was not a credible process. They need to have one and then abide by the results of that.
FIFE: Are you saying that they ran an election that was fraudulent, that you see, something you'd see in some third world dictatorship?
MEASNER: Not something you would expect to see in Canada, yes. There were many, many problems with the election and ltimately the result they got, they added two of the questions together to justify their actions. There needs to be a fair process put in place to allow a plebiscite to happen.
FIFE: But you do have a monopoly, don't you? I mean isn't this issue of giving farmers the choice so they either stay with the monopoly or if they can get a better price somewhere else they can go and sell it on their own. Why, what gives you guys at the Canadian Wheat Board the right to have a monopoly?
MEASNER: Well, the Canadian Wheat Board is nothing more than farmers working together to sell their products, and the wheat board is run by farmer-elected board of directors. So every two years farmers elect five directors to that board. They decide whether they want single desk candidates or whether they want open market candidates, and to date farmers have elected eight out of the ten single desk candidates, so they sent the message of what they want to happen with the organization, and that's what the organization is doing, they're following what farmers want.
FIFE: Well, look, here's what the Conservatives say. They say they do represent western Canadians, and western Canadian farmers and that, for the most part they do it because they send Conservative MPs from farming ridings for the most part
to Ottawa, and the argument I hear from Conservatives is that the wheat board is run by a bunch of bureaucrats supported by the two NDP, you know, slash, slash, wink, wink socialist governments in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and that you guys
are ignoring the will of the people.
MEASNER: Well that's not right. I'm not with the wheat board anymore, but the wheat board is run by a board of directors, and ten of those board members are elected by farmers. So farmers put those board members in place. They're the ones setting the direction for the organization. So if that's what the Harper government is saying, that is not right.
FIFE: So you're not saying that it's, this is a socialistic bureaucratic organization, because that's what they're telling people.
MEASNER: No, it is a farmers organization. It works for farmers. All of the salaries on staff at the Canadian Wheat Board are paid by farmers and it's run by farmers, and you can't explain it any better than that.
FIFE: Let's just look at this whole issue. I mean can we continue with the status quo, and I'm asking you this in a broader context because we know that grain sales, whether it's barley, but all kinds of grain sales are now, prices are really skyrocketing for a number of reasons. And a lot of farmers are saying you know what I can make, get a better buck by selling the stuff on my own. So are we not shortchanging a lot of farmers here by staying with a monopoly situation?
MEASNER: Well, basically, there's been a lot of studies done that show that the single desk selling gets the premium for farmers and gets more money for farmers. There are some farmers that say they can do better on their own. Whether that's true or not, I guess that will depend on the market situation. But ultimately it's up to farmers to decide whether they want to continue to market together or they want to do their own thing. They have chosen to date to market through the single desk, and I think as long that's the direction they want to go that's what should happen. If they choose to change that, then changes can be made.
FIFE: I just want to ask you a personal question, how devastating was it for you to be fired in that way? Can you just give us a sense of what it was like, having the government step in and fire you.
MEASNER: Yeah, well, obviously a very difficult period. Difficult because I was following the directions given to me by the armer-elected board of directors, and the government intervened. They didn't like that direction and I think they made some moves to try and take control of the board of directors, and firing me was one of those moves. So it's a tough period. I worked for the organization for 32 years, certainly have a lot of contacts internationally and in Canada, and know a lot of the farming community. But it was a change, and they had the right to do what they did. They did do it and life goes on.
FIFE: Well thank you very much, Mr. Measner.
MEASNER: Thank you.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Harper comes out swinging on wheat board issue
Updated Thu. Aug. 2 2007 7:59 PM ET
Canadian Press
CHARLOTTETOWN -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper is ready for a renewed battle with the Canadian Wheat Board, saying his government's plan to take away the board's monopoly on barley sales will come about "one way or another.''
"Whether it takes a little bit of time or a lot of time, it's going to happen,'' Harper told reporters Thursday at a caucus meeting in Charlottetown.
A Federal Court judge quashed the government's attempt to end the monopoly this week, saying the change made by the Tory cabinet in the spring was beyond cabinet's authority. Judge Dolores Hansen sided with wheat board supporters and said the change would have to be approved by Parliament.
"(The ruling) does not change the determination of the government of Canada to see a dual market for Canadian farmers," Harper said.
"I hope the wheat board will start working with the government to make sure this is going to happen, 'cause it's going to happen one way or another."
Harper did not say whether he might appeal the ruling, try to get the change through the House of Commons, or try some other method.
Wheat board chairman Ken Ritter said he understands the Tories campaigned on a promise to end the wheat board monopoly and allow farmers to sell independently.
But he said most farmers support the current system, and Harper's minority government would be hard-pressed to get support from the opposition parties to get changes approved in the House of Commons.
"That will be up to parliamentarians to sort out, but certainly the signals we get is that that is not likely,'' Ritter said.
Wheat board supporters say the agency's monopoly, which requires producers to sell through the board for all barley exports and some domestic sales, guarantees high prices for farmers. But opponents say farmers should have the right to sell independently, and can get better deals on their own.
The federal government held a plebiscite last winter in which a majority of barley producers voted to open up the barley market to independent sales. But critics say the plebiscite was flawed, and point out that most wheat board directors elected by farmers support the status quo.
Harper is not swayed.
"Canadian farmers have spoken very clearly that they want to see this barley market open,'' he said.
Wheat board officials were focused primarily Thursday on issuing their summer crop outlook, which showed a July-long heat wave has hurt crop production across the Prairies.
The board is predicting western wheat and durum production of 20 million tonnes -- down five per cent from the board's original forecast in June.
The expectation for barley production has dropped 10 per cent to 11.3 million tonnes.
"In weather terms, a deviation of more than three degrees for an entire month is very significant, and we see large portions of the West where it was four to six degrees above normal,'' said board president Greg Arason.
June's wheat forecast was already a reduction from last year, because heavy spring rain had left some parts of the Prairies too wet to seed. Low early price indications also played a role, giving some producers second thoughts.
Wheat prices are being helped by production problems in other parts of the world, the board said, but the high Canadian dollar will keep rising values in check.
Canadian Press
CHARLOTTETOWN -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper is ready for a renewed battle with the Canadian Wheat Board, saying his government's plan to take away the board's monopoly on barley sales will come about "one way or another.''
"Whether it takes a little bit of time or a lot of time, it's going to happen,'' Harper told reporters Thursday at a caucus meeting in Charlottetown.
A Federal Court judge quashed the government's attempt to end the monopoly this week, saying the change made by the Tory cabinet in the spring was beyond cabinet's authority. Judge Dolores Hansen sided with wheat board supporters and said the change would have to be approved by Parliament.
"(The ruling) does not change the determination of the government of Canada to see a dual market for Canadian farmers," Harper said.
"I hope the wheat board will start working with the government to make sure this is going to happen, 'cause it's going to happen one way or another."
Harper did not say whether he might appeal the ruling, try to get the change through the House of Commons, or try some other method.
Wheat board chairman Ken Ritter said he understands the Tories campaigned on a promise to end the wheat board monopoly and allow farmers to sell independently.
But he said most farmers support the current system, and Harper's minority government would be hard-pressed to get support from the opposition parties to get changes approved in the House of Commons.
"That will be up to parliamentarians to sort out, but certainly the signals we get is that that is not likely,'' Ritter said.
Wheat board supporters say the agency's monopoly, which requires producers to sell through the board for all barley exports and some domestic sales, guarantees high prices for farmers. But opponents say farmers should have the right to sell independently, and can get better deals on their own.
The federal government held a plebiscite last winter in which a majority of barley producers voted to open up the barley market to independent sales. But critics say the plebiscite was flawed, and point out that most wheat board directors elected by farmers support the status quo.
Harper is not swayed.
"Canadian farmers have spoken very clearly that they want to see this barley market open,'' he said.
Wheat board officials were focused primarily Thursday on issuing their summer crop outlook, which showed a July-long heat wave has hurt crop production across the Prairies.
The board is predicting western wheat and durum production of 20 million tonnes -- down five per cent from the board's original forecast in June.
The expectation for barley production has dropped 10 per cent to 11.3 million tonnes.
"In weather terms, a deviation of more than three degrees for an entire month is very significant, and we see large portions of the West where it was four to six degrees above normal,'' said board president Greg Arason.
June's wheat forecast was already a reduction from last year, because heavy spring rain had left some parts of the Prairies too wet to seed. Low early price indications also played a role, giving some producers second thoughts.
Wheat prices are being helped by production problems in other parts of the world, the board said, but the high Canadian dollar will keep rising values in check.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
CWB Official NewsRoom
Newsroom
2007
Farmer control affirmed, CWB to provide maximum value for barley farmers
July 31, 2007
Winnipeg - The CWB will continue to evolve and adapt to provide maximum value for western Canadian barley farmers, after a court ruled today that the federal government cannot change the way barley is marketed without Parliamentary approval.
“The farmer-controlled board of directors has gone a long way to provide flexibility in terms of pricing, payment and delivery -- and we've got plans to go even further,” said Ken Ritter, chair of the CWB’s farmer-controlled board of directors. “We will work hard to find new ways to create marketing choices for farmers without stripping away the marketing power of their single desk”.
While today’s ruling means the single desk remains intact for barley, Ritter says it will not be “business as usual”. The CWB will accelerate the evolution begun several years ago to transform the corporation into an entity that effectively responds to farmers’ business needs without sacrificing market premiums generated through the power of the single desk.
“Now that the court has brought clarity to the process, our path is clear to continue with renewed vigour to make improvements that producers want for their marketing organization,” Ritter said.
Today’s ruling affirms farmer control of this organization and is good news for all farmer-controlled marketing agencies,” said Ritter. “Ten of the 15 members of the board of directors are democratically elected farmers and we, together with our government-appointed colleagues and our CEO, are responsible for charting a course to take the CWB into the future.”
The CWB had argued that it was beyond the federal government’s jurisdiction under the Canadian Wheat Board Act for the government to push through regulatory change and that the 1998 amendments to the CWB Act gave control of the CWB to farmers, not the government. The reasons for Madam Justice Dolores Hansen’s decision can be found on the CWB Web site at www.cwb.ca.
Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada’s biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all revenue, less marketing costs, to farmers.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Maureen Fitzhenry
Media Relations Manager
Tel: (204) 983-3101
Cell: (204) 227-6927
2007
Farmer control affirmed, CWB to provide maximum value for barley farmers
July 31, 2007
Winnipeg - The CWB will continue to evolve and adapt to provide maximum value for western Canadian barley farmers, after a court ruled today that the federal government cannot change the way barley is marketed without Parliamentary approval.
“The farmer-controlled board of directors has gone a long way to provide flexibility in terms of pricing, payment and delivery -- and we've got plans to go even further,” said Ken Ritter, chair of the CWB’s farmer-controlled board of directors. “We will work hard to find new ways to create marketing choices for farmers without stripping away the marketing power of their single desk”.
While today’s ruling means the single desk remains intact for barley, Ritter says it will not be “business as usual”. The CWB will accelerate the evolution begun several years ago to transform the corporation into an entity that effectively responds to farmers’ business needs without sacrificing market premiums generated through the power of the single desk.
“Now that the court has brought clarity to the process, our path is clear to continue with renewed vigour to make improvements that producers want for their marketing organization,” Ritter said.
Today’s ruling affirms farmer control of this organization and is good news for all farmer-controlled marketing agencies,” said Ritter. “Ten of the 15 members of the board of directors are democratically elected farmers and we, together with our government-appointed colleagues and our CEO, are responsible for charting a course to take the CWB into the future.”
The CWB had argued that it was beyond the federal government’s jurisdiction under the Canadian Wheat Board Act for the government to push through regulatory change and that the 1998 amendments to the CWB Act gave control of the CWB to farmers, not the government. The reasons for Madam Justice Dolores Hansen’s decision can be found on the CWB Web site at www.cwb.ca.
Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada’s biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all revenue, less marketing costs, to farmers.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Maureen Fitzhenry
Media Relations Manager
Tel: (204) 983-3101
Cell: (204) 227-6927
News Release: Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board
Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board
--a coalition of farmers and other Canadians in support of a democratic, farmer-controlled CWB
August 1, 2007
NEWS RELEASE Immediate Release
Federal Court Ruling on Barley is a Win for Prairie Farmers and Canadian Democracy
Winnipeg—Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board (FCWB) today expressed its satisfaction with Judge Dolores Hansen’s ruling on the court challenge it initiated in response to the federal government’s attempt to remove barley from the CWB’s mandate through Order-in-Council rather than legislation.
The court ruled that Agriculture and Agri-food Minister Chuck Strahl’s Order-in-Council was null and void. The court confirmed that crops can only be removed from the CWB’s mandate by Parliament after the Minister has consulted with the CWB’s board of directors and determined the wishes of grain producers through a clearly-worded and fair plebiscite.
“This is not only a victory for farmers,” said Doug Chorney, a grain producer from East Selkirk and a member of FCWB, “it is also a victory for democracy and the rule of law in civil society. Minister Strahl and his cabinet colleagues were attempting to do an end-run on Section 47.1 of the Canadian Wheat Board Act which clearly outlines the legal process for removing crops from the CWB’s marketing mandate. Judge Hansen’s decision protects millions of dollars in additional revenue to prairie producers from single-desk marketing of their barley through the CWB. It also confirms Parliament’s intent to devolve control of the CWB to prairie farmers from the federal government through the amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board Act it passed in 1998,” said Chorney.
In expressing his satisfaction with the court’s decision, Anders Bruun, lead counsel for the FCWB and the twelve farmer applicants, said “I hope that Minister Strahl sees fit to accept Justice Hansen’s decision. This issue has created unnecessary divisions in the farm community. It should be brought to a close as soon as possible so farmers and their governments can focus on real problems. Good politics and good policies bring people together not divide them,” said Bruun.
In commenting on the outcome of its challenge in the Federal Court of Canada, Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board thanked the twelve barley producers from across the prairies who signed on to the court application. Their principled stand contributed to the CWB’s decision to launch its own court challenge a few days later. The Manitoba and Saskatchewan governments signed on shortly thereafter as supporting interveners. FCWB also acknowledged the financial support of both provincial governments as well as the many farmers and ordinary Canadians who put their money where their mouth was and donated generously to the cause.
--a coalition of farmers and other Canadians in support of a democratic, farmer-controlled CWB
August 1, 2007
NEWS RELEASE Immediate Release
Federal Court Ruling on Barley is a Win for Prairie Farmers and Canadian Democracy
Winnipeg—Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board (FCWB) today expressed its satisfaction with Judge Dolores Hansen’s ruling on the court challenge it initiated in response to the federal government’s attempt to remove barley from the CWB’s mandate through Order-in-Council rather than legislation.
The court ruled that Agriculture and Agri-food Minister Chuck Strahl’s Order-in-Council was null and void. The court confirmed that crops can only be removed from the CWB’s mandate by Parliament after the Minister has consulted with the CWB’s board of directors and determined the wishes of grain producers through a clearly-worded and fair plebiscite.
“This is not only a victory for farmers,” said Doug Chorney, a grain producer from East Selkirk and a member of FCWB, “it is also a victory for democracy and the rule of law in civil society. Minister Strahl and his cabinet colleagues were attempting to do an end-run on Section 47.1 of the Canadian Wheat Board Act which clearly outlines the legal process for removing crops from the CWB’s marketing mandate. Judge Hansen’s decision protects millions of dollars in additional revenue to prairie producers from single-desk marketing of their barley through the CWB. It also confirms Parliament’s intent to devolve control of the CWB to prairie farmers from the federal government through the amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board Act it passed in 1998,” said Chorney.
In expressing his satisfaction with the court’s decision, Anders Bruun, lead counsel for the FCWB and the twelve farmer applicants, said “I hope that Minister Strahl sees fit to accept Justice Hansen’s decision. This issue has created unnecessary divisions in the farm community. It should be brought to a close as soon as possible so farmers and their governments can focus on real problems. Good politics and good policies bring people together not divide them,” said Bruun.
In commenting on the outcome of its challenge in the Federal Court of Canada, Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board thanked the twelve barley producers from across the prairies who signed on to the court application. Their principled stand contributed to the CWB’s decision to launch its own court challenge a few days later. The Manitoba and Saskatchewan governments signed on shortly thereafter as supporting interveners. FCWB also acknowledged the financial support of both provincial governments as well as the many farmers and ordinary Canadians who put their money where their mouth was and donated generously to the cause.
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