Summary
Canadian Wheat Board president Adrian Measner not only defies Ottawa, he and his monopoly have defied Canadians and farmers. Measner states that a majority of the farmers do not want marketing choice in selling their own wheat and barley. How can Measner make these assumptions when his own monopoly board has always forced the farmer to sell his wheat or barley through them, never giving the farmer a choice? If farmers were able to have the choice, would this not be proof in itself that the wheat board was doing as good a job as they are saying they do? How "un-Canadian" is it to throw farmers in jail for selling their own wheat and barley? How "un-Canadian" is it to not allow well-educated young producers, who have all the same skills as any business person on Portage and Main, the freedom of selling their own grain? As an established farmer, I strongly support this government and Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl in his efforts to help farmers be true and free Canadians. We all need to encourage and support our young entrepreneurial farmers who can, and should, have their own opportunities in seeking out markets which are the best for their individual farms, be it the CWB or some place else of their own choice.
Grain growers need to question the motives for repeated assurances by highly paid CWB executives that the CWB's monopoly captures price premiums. That advice is strengthened by the speech on Oct. 19 of Adrian Measner, CEO of the CWB, at a chamber of commerce luncheon. Press reports indicate that his key points in making a case for retention of the single desk included the benefits to Winnipeg's general economy of the CWB's huge payroll. That's nice for Winnipeg but how does it help farmers who foot the bill for that payroll?See the full content of this document
Extract
Letters to the Editor
Assumptions questioned
Re: Fighting for farmers (Oct. 20).Canadian Wheat Board president Adrian Measner not only defies Ottawa, he and his monopoly have defied Canadians and farmers. Measner states that a majority of the farmers do not want marketing choice in selling their own wheat and barley. Ho...See the full content of this document
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