Laura Rance / Rural Revival Cwb in Survival Mode After Election Hijinks

Summary

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The voters list and eligibility rules were changed. Some people automatically received ballots in the mail, while others had to apply for one. In Manitoba, three of the four candidates attempting to unseat incumbent Bill Toews, who supports the single desk, advertised jointly, instructing farmers how to vote on the preferential ballot to ensure Toews did not win. Under preferential balloting, voters rank candidates. If one candidate fails to get more than 50 per cent on the first ballot, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is dropped and those votes reassigned. Toews won on the first ballot.

Perhaps the cheekiest move was letters sent to farmers in four districts from their federal MPs, at taxpayers' expense, advising them to vote for candidates that support the Conservatives' position. Some of the names and addresses bear a striking resemblance to how farmers, farm operations and even numbered companies are listed on the CWB voters' list, which no one but the candidates should have been able to access.

If last week's release from the minister's office is any indication, it doesn't bode well for the board. The release went on at length about maintaining Canada's position to protect supply management. As for his defence of the CWB, once again, the silence was deafening.

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Laura Rance / Rural Revival Cwb in Survival Mode After Election Hijinks

Supporters of the Canadian Wheat Board would be thinking they could breathe a little easier now that the 2008 director election results are complete -- if they were naive.

With all the talk about democratic process as the parliamentary drama unfo...

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