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The rot at the CWB is starting to surface

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    The rot at the CWB is starting to surface

    I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg.

    Wheat Board tries to spend its way to victory


    November 21, 2002 ­ The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) continues to interfere in
    the current director elections, squandering farmers¹ money on a propaganda
    campaign designed to "buy" the outcome of the CWB election, says a group
    dedicated to freedom of choice in grain marketing.

    The Wheat Board is blitzing farmers¹ mailboxes and media outlets with
    one-sided propaganda that makes a mockery of the election rules, says Alanna
    Koch, Chairperson of CARE (Choice, Accountability, Responsibility,
    Efficiency).

    "It¹s like a government being allowed to spend taxpayers¹ money to finance
    its re-election," says Koch. "It¹s something you¹d expect in a
    dictatorship."

    Koch says it also appears the CWB is using farmers¹ money to influence the
    views of some media commentators. She says CARE has learned that at least
    one commentator, Paul Beingessner, whose columns are published in several
    prairie newspapers regularly communicates with the Wheat Board and has
    previously been contracted to serve as a consultant to the Wheat Board.

    "It certainly creates the perception that the opinions of this individual
    have been bought and paid for by the CWB," says Koch.

    Koch challenged the commentator to declare his conflict-of-interest when
    expressing views on the Wheat Board. She further challenged the CWB to
    reveal the nature of any financial arrangements it has with individuals who
    are regularly quoted or published in the news media on the Board¹s
    operations.

    "We think it¹s only fair that farmers know if these individuals are speaking
    on their own behalf or as paid consultants of the Board," she says.

    Koch says the Wheat Board continues to put the survival of a system that
    jails farmers for selling their own grain ahead of the business of marketing
    and maximizing returns. In a year when the CWB will be handling one of the
    smallest crops in history, its administration and communication costs are
    running at record levels.

    Koch says poorly-drafted rules put the election coordinator in an impossible
    situation and make it difficult for him to do his job effectively. The
    rules give the Wheat Board a "free rein" to put its full resources into the
    election effort. She urged farmers to take the time to vote and to support
    candidates committed to "change" and "freedom of choice" in the Canadian
    Wheat Board marketing system.

    Contact:
    Alanna Koch, Chairperson, CARE, (306)771-2686
    Or
    Mary-Lynn Charlton (306) 584-1000

    #2
    Could that be why every time Kevin Hursch lifts his pen, it seems to subscribe to Wheat Board doctrine? Or ignores producer activism. Toronto writers are often more interested in what farmers say than Western farm writers appear to be!

    Kevin Hursch is a so-called Agricultural writer who hasn't seemed to even notice that the CWB is not following its' own legislation and I was expecting more from him! Makes good material if you happen to write about useful stories for the farm community. On the other hand, perhaps his commentaries are NOT for the farm community.

    Could Hursch be a particularly unobservant farm commentator, or could he just happen to be one of those writers on the CWB payroll?

    What are the farm commentators doing in your local papers?

    Parsley

    Comment


      #3
      Is anyone getting tired of Kevin Hursh and Paul Martin telling us how rosy things are with the status quo in the grain industry? i.e. Apologists for CWB and Federal government. Today Hursh contradicted Ag Canada's prediction for a large drop in farm income. It seems that every time there is some bad news, he's there to try and down play it. His credibility is questionable!

      I see they both are directors on Saskatchewan Agrivision Corporation Inc. The CWB also has a director as well as other large government and corporate interests. For an organization that seems to have a lot to say about agriculture they sure do lack any representation from actual grain producers.

      http://www.agrivision.sk.ca/

      The Aim of the Saskatchewan Agrivision Corporation Inc. (SAC Inc.) is to encourage and foster the rapid development of Saskatchewan's agribusiness sector.

      Board of Directors . . .
      C.M. (Red) Williams, President
      Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences, U of S.
      6D - 34 Agriculture Building, 51 Campus Drive
      Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8
      Tel: 306-966-4157 Fax: 306-966-4151
      williamsch@skyway.usask.ca

      Lawre Allen, Vice President, Intermodal & Automotive Group
      Canadian Pacific Railway
      Suite 400 Gulf Canada Square
      402 - 9th Avenue S.W.
      Calgary, AB T2P 4Z4
      Tel: 403-319-7545 Fax: 403-205-9010
      lawre.allen@cpr.ca

      Gil Assie, Chartered Accountant
      Meyers Norris Penny
      366 - 3rd Avenue South
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 1M5
      Tel: 306-665-6766 Fax: 306-665-9910
      assieg@mnp.ca

      Dan Bergen, VP, Prairie Lending Operations
      Farm Credit Canada
      1800 Hamilton Street
      P.O. 4320
      Regina, SK S4P 4L3
      Tel: 306-780-6594 Fax: 306-780-5611
      dan.bergen@fcc-fac.ca

      Alternate: Gerald Berscheid, Account Manager
      Farm Credit Canada
      301-2100 8th Street East
      Saskatoon, SK S7H 0V1
      Tel: 306-975-8905 Fax: 306-975-4864

      Donna Bohrson, Agriculture Manager
      Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corp.
      P.O. Box 6010
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 4E4
      Tel: 306-931-7149 Fax: 306-931-7886
      dbohrson@saskatoonex.com

      Alternate: Don Featherstone, Past Board Chair
      Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corp.
      634 Whiteswan Drive
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 8A3
      Tel: 306-242-1239 Fax: 306-242-1239

      Dale Botting, Chief Executive Officer
      SREDA
      345 Third Avenue South
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 1M6
      Tel: 306-664-0723 Fax: 306-244-5033
      dbotting@sreda.com

      Alternate: Danae Armstrong (AgriBusiness Develop)
      SREDA
      345 Third Avenue South
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 1M6
      Tel: 306-664-0728 Fax: 306-244-5033
      darmstrong@sreda.com

      Roxanne Carr, Manager of Agriculture & Racing
      Regina Exhibition Association
      PO Box 167, 1700 Elphinstone Street
      Regina, SK S4P 2Z6
      Tel: 306-781-9316 Fax: 306-565-3443
      rcarr@reginaexhibition.com

      Alternate: Doug Cressman, General Manager
      Regina Exhibition Association
      PO Box 167, 1700 Elphinstone Street
      Regina, SK S4P 2Z6
      Tel: 306-781-9200 Fax: 306-565-3443
      dcressman@reginaexhibition.com

      Neal Hardy, President
      Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities
      Box 292
      Hudson Bay, SK S0E 0Y0
      Tel (Res): 306-865-2431 Fax: 306-865-3193
      sarm.hardy@sasktel.net

      Alternate: David Marit, Director for Division 2
      Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities
      Box 1
      Fife Lake, SK S0H 0V0
      Tel (Res): 306-476-2600 Fax: 306-476-2719
      sarm.marit@sk.sympatico.ca

      Sheryl Hilash, Director, Corporate Development
      Crown Investments Corp.
      204 - 15 Innovation Blvd.
      Saskatoon, SK S7N 2X8
      Tel: 306-933-7315 Fax: 306-933-7706
      shilash@cicorp.sk.ca

      Don Hrapchak, General Manager
      SPI Marketing Group Inc.
      502 - 45th Street West, Second Floor
      Saskatoon, SK S7L 6H2
      Tel: 306-343-3477 Fax: 306-244-2918
      don@spimg.ca

      P.J. (Pierr) Hucl
      College of Agriculture, U of S
      Room 3C84, 51 Campus Drive
      Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8
      Tel: Off: 306-966-8667 Fax: 306-966-5015
      hucl@sask.usask.ca

      Alternate: Tom Allen, Agricultural Economist
      College of Agriculture, U of S
      51 Campus Drive
      Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8
      Tel: 306-966-4012 Fax: 306-955-8413
      allenth@duke.usask.ca

      Kevin Hursh
      Hursh Consulting & Communications
      566 Adilman Drive
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 7H5
      Tel: 306-933-0138 Fax: 306-249-4869
      kevin.hursh@home.com

      Wilfred Jimmy, Acting Director
      National Indian Federation Corporation
      Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
      200 - 103A Packham Avenue
      Saskatoon, SK S7N 4K4
      Tel: 306-956-1041 Fax: 306-477-4554
      jimmw@fsin.com

      Alternate: Lester Lafond, President, Lafond Financial
      Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
      140 - 203 Packham Avenue
      Saskatoon, SK S7N 4K4
      Tel: 306-343-3545 Fax: 306-343-3543
      lafond.financial@sk.sympatico.ca

      Stuart Kramer, President
      Sask Water
      111 Fairford Street East
      Moose Jaw, SK S6H 7X9
      Tel: 306-694-3903 Fax: 306-694-3991
      skramer@saskwater.com

      Larry Lang, General Manager
      Saskatchewan Economic Developers Association
      Box 849, 320 Main Street
      Broadview, SK S0G 0K0
      Tel: 306-696-2550 Fax: 306-696-2824
      lang.hmc@sk.sympatico.ca

      Luanne Lashyn, Executive Director
      Saskatchewan Food Processors Association
      Suite 107 - 105 North Road
      Saskatoon, SK S7N 4L5
      Tel: 306-683-2412 Fax: 306-683-2420
      lashyn@sfpa.sk.ca

      Andrea Lowther-Hilderman, Manager, Market Development
      Canadian Wheat Board
      PO Box 816, Station "M"
      Winnipeg, MB R3C 2P5
      Tel: 204-938-3509 Fax: 204-984-1699
      andrea.lowther@cwb.ca

      Alternate: Tom Halpenny, Farm Policy Advisor
      Canadian Wheat Board
      1921 Sommerfeld Avenue
      Saskatoon, SK S7J 2E2
      Tel: 306-244-6773 Fax: 306-244-6774
      tom.halpenny@cwb.ca

      Jim Mann, President
      Farmers North America Inc.
      10th Floor, 201 - 21st Street East
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 0B8
      Tel: 306-665-2294 Ext. 104 Fax: 306-665-2099
      jmann@fna.ca

      Alternate: Steve Nixon
      Farmers North America Inc.
      1000 - 201 - 21st Street East
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 0B8
      Tel: 306-665-2294 Ext. 122 Fax: 306-651-0444
      snixon@fna.ca

      Russel Marcoux, Chief Executive Officer
      Yanke Group of Companies
      2815 Lorne Avenue
      Saskatoon, SK S7J 0S5
      Tel: 306-664-1413 Fax: 306-664-1418
      russelm@yanke.ca

      Paul Martin
      Regina REDA
      50 Culiton Crescent
      Regina, SK S4S 4J6
      Tel: 306-359-9854 Fax (Res): 306-359-9855
      pmartin.pmc@glo.com

      Robert McKercher, Senior Partner
      McKercher McKercher & Whitmore
      300 - 374 3rd Avenue South
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 1M6
      Tel: 306-653-2000 Fax: 306-244-7335
      r.mckercher@mckercher.ca

      Alternate: Paul Grant, Partner
      McKercher Mckercher & Whitmore
      300 - 374 3rd Avenue South
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 1M6
      Tel: 306-653-2000 Fax: 306-244-7335
      p.grant@mckercher.ca

      Gord Nystuen, Deputy Minister
      Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food
      3085 Albert Street, Room 101
      Regina, SK S4S 0B1
      Tel: 306-787-5170 Fax: 306-787-2393
      gnystuen@agr.gov.sk.ca

      Alternate: Maryellen Carlson, Director
      Industry Development Branch
      Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food
      Room 329, 3085 Albert Street
      Regina, SK S4S 0B1
      Tel: 306-787-8526 Fax: 306-787-0271
      mcarlson@agr.gov.sk.ca

      Harley Olsen, Director, Market & Industry Services Branch
      Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
      801 - 1800 Hamilton Street
      Regina, SK S4P 4K7
      Tel: 306-780-7065 Fax: 306-780-7360
      olsenh@em.agr.ca

      Alternate: Jim Atcheson, Acting Director
      Market & Industry Services Branch
      Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
      801 - 1800 Hamilton Street
      Regina, SK S4P 4K7
      Tel: 306-780-5452 Fax: 306-780-7360
      atcheson@em.agr.ca

      Florian Possberg, President
      Big Sky Farms
      Box 610
      Humboldt, SK S0K 2A0
      Tel: 306-682-5041 Fax: 306-682-5042
      fpossberg@bigsky.sk.ca

      George Pryce, District Manager
      CIBC
      2nd Floor, 1800 Hamilton Street
      Regina, SK S4P 4K7
      Tel: 306-359-8394 Fax: 306-359-7533
      pryce@sk.sympatico.ca

      Alternate: Stuart McDowell
      CIBC
      320 Circle Drive East
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 0T6
      Tel: 306-668-3466 Fax: 306-668-3437
      stu.mcdowell@sk.sympatico.ca

      Glenn Sinden, Sales & Market Manager
      Royal Bank
      4th Floor, 154 - 1st Avenue South
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 1K2
      Tel: 306-933-3401 Fax: 306-668-3893
      glenn.sinden@royalbank.com

      Alternate: Glenn Harvey, Manager, Agriculture Banking
      Royal Bank
      2030 Avenue C North
      Saskatoon, SK S7L 1M2
      Tel: 306-933-3534 Fax: 306-933-3747
      jack.fleming@royalbank.com

      Kent Smith-Windsor, Chief Executive Officer
      Saskatoon & District Chamber of Commerce
      345 - 3rd Avenue South
      Saskatoon, SK S7K 1M6
      Tel: 306-244-2151 Fax: 306-244-8366
      dwinslow@eboardoftrade.com

      Larry Spannier, Deputy Minister
      Saskatchewan Industry and Resources
      2103 11th Avenue, 11th Floor
      Regina, SK S4P 3V7
      Tel: 306-787-9580 Fax: 306-787-2159
      lspannier@ecd.gov.sk.ca

      Alternate: Robin Johnson
      Saskatchewan Industry and Resources
      7th Floor, 1919 Saskatchewan Drive
      Regina, SK S4P 3V7
      Tel: 306-787-2199 Fax: 306-798-0056
      ejohnson@ecd.gov.sk.ca

      Jerome Steckhan, Acting General Manager
      Sask Pork
      Bay 2, Main Floor, 502 - 45th Street West
      Saskatoon, SK S7L 6H2
      Tel: 306-343-3503 Fax: 306-244-1712
      jsteckhan@saskpork.com

      Marvin Wiens, President & Chairman of the Board
      Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
      2625 Victoria Avenue
      Regina, SK S4T 7T9
      Tel: 306-569-4224 Fax: 306-569-5016
      marvin.wiens@swp.com

      Alternate: Tom Douglas, Manager of Strategic Planning
      Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
      2625 Victoria Avenue
      Regina, SK S4T 7T9
      Tel: 306-569-4572 Fax: 306-569-5133
      tom.douglas@swp.com

      Comment


        #4
        Kevin Hursh is a grain producer!

        Comment


          #5
          BMJ;

          What I do not understand is that CWB monopoly supporters stress that it is greedy people (who want more money for their own grain)who are destroying the CWB "single desk" ...

          Yet in the same breath they say that the "single desk" monopoly extracts a premium for them and their farm.

          How exactly can they morally stand on both sides of this issue... at the same time...???

          Does this make any logical sense?

          Comment


            #6
            What I was commenting on is that
            Kevin Hursh is a grain producer, and
            he is entitled to his opinion! Yes it
            the typical socialist view that if
            someone gets too far ahead, they
            should be brought back down. I see
            this attitude everyday from my
            neighbours and it makes me sick! If
            all the pro CWB people actually knew
            the history of why the CWB came into
            existence, they might change their
            story? By the way did the CWB act
            ever apply to the eastern
            provinces?(when it was first
            imposed)

            Comment


              #7
              bmj 182,

              The CWB's licensing part of the Act applies equally to every province. Nothing has changed.

              There was some involvement with Ontario wheat in the 1940's with regards to the marketing arm. That ended. The marketing part of the Act applies only to the Designated Area and has been that way for years.

              Parsley

              Comment


                #8
                BMJ;

                With one CWB board order, the rest of BC and half of Ontario could be sucked into the CWB "designated area" today under the authority of the CWB Act.

                If export wheat volumes do affect CWB marketing, OWPMB export licenses could be denied, if the price inside Canada is different from the price outside, or if there is a pecuniary benefit enuring to the OWPMB by the issuance of the CWB export license.

                I cannot see a difference between Ontario farmer's wheat, and a "designated area" farmers wheat who will not offer this wheat for sale and delivery to the CWB as specified by the CWB Act.

                Something really is fishy... and the CWB is not admitting that they are caught in this catch 22...

                Comment


                  #9
                  Someone should launch a charter of
                  rights challenge! Its the same as
                  saying French is only allowed in
                  Quebec! Imagine what would
                  happen if they tried that!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    tom4CWB,

                    Regarding extension of DA to cover all of BC and part of Ontario:

                    The Act states that would be a Cabinet decision, notonse of the CWB Directors.


                    Tom4CWB, it is wrong to consider "Board marketing" in the ordinary commercial context.

                    Rather, Board marketing must be defined in the legal context of the STATED OBJECTIVES of the Act.

                    That means the only requirement is orderly marketing and price pooling.

                    It has nothing to do with maximizing prices and volumes!


                    In the early 1980's, the CWB refused to grant export licenses for Ontario farmers' barley exports. Presumably, the Ontario farmers could export into a high US market and replace their needs with cheap Western barley. The Federal Government ORDERED the CWB to grant licenses.

                    Regarding the "pecuniary benefit":

                    Tom$CWB, has thalpenny got to you? The pecuniary benefit is ZERO when the Government has no set price in Canada. Thus the price inside and outside Canada is the same and the pecuniary benefit is ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!

                    We still have NAFTA, tom4CWB, so the price inside and outside Canada cannot be set differently.

                    Parsley

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Parsley;

                      In the INTERPRETATION part of the CWB Act…

                      CWB Act Section

                      "2. (1) In this Act,

                      "order" means any order of the Corporation made under this Act and includes "instructions to the trade" issued by the Corporation;

                      2.(3) The Corporation may, by order, designate parts of the Province of British Columbia, other than the Peace River District, and parts of the Province of Ontario lying in the Western Division that are included in the designated area, for the purposes of this Act."

                      It would be very hard to read into this, that the Gov. in Council approval is needed for the CWB to proceed with 2.(3)

                      Parsley, on the price inside and outside Canada, and the pecuniary benefit enuring the applicant, I am simply trying to use the same standards the CWB says they use for "designated area" producers...

                      This is not my judgement I am creating, rather what the CWB has quoted in court, a number of times, as well as public CWB statements meant to justify the CWB monopoly.

                      I was trying to point out that inconsistant and illogical application of the CWB laws are the CWB scheme...

                      And that the CWB application of Section 14 of the CWB Regulations do not reconcile CWB issuance of export licenses outside the "designated area".

                      As you have rightly pointed out... the present CWB policy regarding licensing does not obey the CWB Act.

                      THIS is very complex, and judges become entangled in the complex web of words and don't even try to understand what is actually happening.

                      Comment

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