While the Harpster has his beady little eyes

**Braveheart** · Sep 20, 2011, 16:44

The best competition nagainst railways is something like a pasta plant in southern SK, a flour mill somewhere on the prairies, hog barn, feedlot, and yes an open border.

It's a fact that when oats were removed from the CWB freight rates and elevation tariffs had to drop to keep trucks from taking oats to Minneapolis.

So, in essence, the single buying desk, by keeping the pasta plants, flour mills, and any other processing squashed as well as the border closed is the main contributor to railway market power.

**Braveheart** · Sep 20, 2011, 16:47

I'd rather deal with the Harpster than "Harpies" like the Friends of the CWB.

**mustardman** · Sep 20, 2011, 17:08

Oh yes braveheart there will be a Pasta plant in every little town across the prairies. lol Hope your town has an empty lot

**mustardman** · Sep 20, 2011, 17:15

The railroad must love the cons for the red herring distraction they've created for them.

Oh well probably just another high paid directorship for some con mps will be enough of a bribe to keep the books from being opened up.

**Braveheart** · Sep 20, 2011, 17:45

The railways LOVE the single buying desk. It keeps western farmers captive to them (railways).

It was always such a political circus to watch the board launch Level of Service complaints, make a big noise about the railways blah, blah, when they relied on one another for service/business.

Yes, the railways have market power. That won't change anytime soon if ever. But to close your mind to at least the concept of value added opportunities is slamming the door on competition for said railways. But that was the old wheat pool/wheat board way. Great legacy.

By the way, we're open for business.

**gregpet** · Sep 20, 2011, 18:29

You mean freight rates never increased while the Liberals were in power?

**Braveheart** · Sep 20, 2011, 18:34

Good point gregpet. They also wasted money and everyones' time with Estey and Kroeger and discarded the recommendations. They did this of course because it was determined that the board was part of the problem.

**SASKFARMER3** · Sep 20, 2011, 18:52

Mustard are you the idiot I met in the airport in
Cancun 3 years ago from sw sask that was CWB
crazy.
Your logic makes no sence to anybody.
Simply let me out what are you afraid of. You can
have your CWB, why do you need me?

**LWeber** · Sep 20, 2011, 19:20

Why worry about the extra 5.4 cents a bushel going to the railways when the western Canadian fixed price for durum is $9.05 - and $11.91, 17 miles inside the U.S. border.

thats $2.86 ...and you are worried about the railway's lobby?

I can't stand the RR lobby either...but call a spade a spade. Who is screwing you more?

While the Harpster has his beady little eyes