Canadian Wheat Board squanders four months and counting
(Monday, September 12, 2011 Ottawa) – The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) says the Canadian Wheat Board has now wasted over four months of valuable time trying to overturn the Conservatives long standing campaign promise to give prairie farmers the freedom to market their own wheat and barley. Following the May 2nd election, the Government promised to quickly implement its campaign promise to provide marketing freedom to western farmers. Parliament resumes in mid-September and legislation is expected shortly after.
“It is unfortunate that a narrow majority on the Board of the CWB continues to refuse to let their management team get to work on a new business model, while according to their own survey released today, over 20,000 farmers are looking for marketing freedom,” says Vandervalk. “The CWB is unfortunately focussed on counting ballots from what everyone agrees is a gravely flawed voters list rather than counting actual producers and in the process the Board, for their own philosophical reasons, seems determined to destroy its organization’s future rather than allow it the freedom to operate in an open market.
Looking at the vote results Vandervalk points out “Of the ballots mailed out, only 34% actually voted for the CWB monopoly on wheat. Barley results were even lower for the status quo - only 29% support the monopoly. There was very low participation rate with this survey showing the CWB really needs to move on and get moving ahead with their transition plan.”
The Governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan which represent the vast majority of the wheat and barley producers have all endorsed the concept of giving farmers the freedom to choose whether to market through the Wheat Board, or on their own.
“The CWB insists on squandering time, resources, and the trust of our customers, rather than working progressively with farm groups who are willing to lobby the Government to get as many tools and supports as possible to help ensure the new CWB has the opportunity to be successful in the future,” says Vandervalk.
The Grain Growers of Canada continues to encourage the CWB to move towards building the new business model needed to transition into the free market. “The CWB has a respected, world-wide brand and staff with farmer contact, customer contacts, trade knowledge and logistics expertise, but to be successful the Wheat Board needs to get moving now on their future plan,” says Vandervalk. “We are calling on the eight of the fifteen directors to start working for the majority of farmers who have clearly indicated in survey after survey they want to see the CWB as an option in the open market.”
According to the CWB’s own survey released this July, young farmers, the future of agriculture in western Canada, support changes to the CWB monopoly. Given the choice between the single desk for wheat, a dual market or an open market without the CWB, 56% of young farmers say they would prefer a dual market. As a young farmer Vandervalk concludes, “They need to get to work on a new business model because this change is about building a new future for wheat and barley, not protecting the past.”
Representing over 80,000 successful wheat, barley, canola, oat, corn, pea, lentil, rye and triticale farmers across Canada, the Grain Growers of Canada is well known as the national voice of Canadian grain farmers.
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For more information:
Stephen Vandervalk, President of the Grain Growers of Canada, 403-795-1171
Richard Phillips, Executive Director of the Grain Growers of Canada, 613-875-1795
(Monday, September 12, 2011 Ottawa) – The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) says the Canadian Wheat Board has now wasted over four months of valuable time trying to overturn the Conservatives long standing campaign promise to give prairie farmers the freedom to market their own wheat and barley. Following the May 2nd election, the Government promised to quickly implement its campaign promise to provide marketing freedom to western farmers. Parliament resumes in mid-September and legislation is expected shortly after.
“It is unfortunate that a narrow majority on the Board of the CWB continues to refuse to let their management team get to work on a new business model, while according to their own survey released today, over 20,000 farmers are looking for marketing freedom,” says Vandervalk. “The CWB is unfortunately focussed on counting ballots from what everyone agrees is a gravely flawed voters list rather than counting actual producers and in the process the Board, for their own philosophical reasons, seems determined to destroy its organization’s future rather than allow it the freedom to operate in an open market.
Looking at the vote results Vandervalk points out “Of the ballots mailed out, only 34% actually voted for the CWB monopoly on wheat. Barley results were even lower for the status quo - only 29% support the monopoly. There was very low participation rate with this survey showing the CWB really needs to move on and get moving ahead with their transition plan.”
The Governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan which represent the vast majority of the wheat and barley producers have all endorsed the concept of giving farmers the freedom to choose whether to market through the Wheat Board, or on their own.
“The CWB insists on squandering time, resources, and the trust of our customers, rather than working progressively with farm groups who are willing to lobby the Government to get as many tools and supports as possible to help ensure the new CWB has the opportunity to be successful in the future,” says Vandervalk.
The Grain Growers of Canada continues to encourage the CWB to move towards building the new business model needed to transition into the free market. “The CWB has a respected, world-wide brand and staff with farmer contact, customer contacts, trade knowledge and logistics expertise, but to be successful the Wheat Board needs to get moving now on their future plan,” says Vandervalk. “We are calling on the eight of the fifteen directors to start working for the majority of farmers who have clearly indicated in survey after survey they want to see the CWB as an option in the open market.”
According to the CWB’s own survey released this July, young farmers, the future of agriculture in western Canada, support changes to the CWB monopoly. Given the choice between the single desk for wheat, a dual market or an open market without the CWB, 56% of young farmers say they would prefer a dual market. As a young farmer Vandervalk concludes, “They need to get to work on a new business model because this change is about building a new future for wheat and barley, not protecting the past.”
Representing over 80,000 successful wheat, barley, canola, oat, corn, pea, lentil, rye and triticale farmers across Canada, the Grain Growers of Canada is well known as the national voice of Canadian grain farmers.
-30-
For more information:
Stephen Vandervalk, President of the Grain Growers of Canada, 403-795-1171
Richard Phillips, Executive Director of the Grain Growers of Canada, 613-875-1795
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