More Appropriate Headline "NFU IN LOVE WITH THE WORD IDEOLOGICAL"

[AdamSmith]

Tories to introduce legislation to end wheat board monopoly
Winnipeg Free Press
Published: Tuesday, January 29, 2008

OTTAWA -- Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz plans to introduce legislation to end the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly on prairie barley sales.

Mr. Ritz made the announcement Tuesday after a meeting in Ottawa with wheat board officials and barley industry representatives, which the minister called very productive.

The Conservative government has long said that farmers in Western Canada should have the right to sell grain on their own, without the board, which currently has a monopoly on the sale of barley.

The move has been harshly opposed by supporters of the current system. Last summer, a federal court ruled that Ottawa could not change the wheat board's mandate without a full vote of Parliament.

On Tuesday, Mr. Ritz sent the wheat board back to Winnipeg with orders to take what they heard before the board of directors later this week.

He said he's hoping the board will produce a plan to introduce marketing choice for barley producers.

He said the wheat board will support the legislation "if they purport to really represent producers" but said he will introduce legislation regardless, with a view to implementing marketing choice on Aug. 1.

He acknowledged the wheat board's support "would help take the opposition parties' stinger away."

[AdamSmith]

On Tuesday, Mr. Ritz sent the wheat board back to Winnipeg with orders to take what they heard before the board of directors later this week.

He said he's hoping the board will produce a plan to introduce marketing choice for barley producers.

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Uhm......Ohh Surrrre....Yeah.

That's gonna happen.

[Jay-mo]

Butch Harder.......WOWSER!
There are too many gems in his comments. Where do I start?
I like how he is quoted as a "farmer" with no mention of his status as a former CWB director.
Why is this guy still on any reporters speed dial??
Then the gem of gems:
DESTROY THE FREAKING CBC????
It has to be too good to be true.

[Jay-mo]

Thank God there is the other perspective.
With out Mr. Harder, Sigurdson, Wells, Woods and Tait truly frank and unbiased opinions where would we get a belly laugh from?
Yet it does amaze me how these folks can say what they say, then pick it up in the paper and read it and not see what asses of them selves they just made?
If these are the CWB's best confidants and friends and the CWB supports them, WOW, the slippery slope their on is their own. All the way to the pit of despair and ultimate internal distruction.
Erik

[AdamSmith]

Saw Ken Sigurdson on the CKY Winnipeg evening news last night. From their tantrum in Ottawa.

Wife took one look at him and says

"Oh God, he's a real prize"

The man looked like he'd just come in from doing chores and had been kicked in the head by a cow.

I know we shouldn't get personal here but, holy crap, this man was putting himself on display for the entire country to see and hear and he presented himself as a homeless half-wit.

What did the NFU do, sc**** the bottom of the barrel and find him underneath the goop?

[parsley]

I had an uncle who wore felt boots, a tweed hat with a snap in it, and coveralls, who taught me nothing about fashion, but taught everyone around him everything about honesty, and kindness, and integrity, and respect, and truth.

Ken Sigurdson told his story and although I do not agree with his vision and beliefs, I do respect his sincerity and his dedication to articulate his beliefs,and perhaps CKY Winnipeg evening news looked for and sensed the same.

Parsley

[AdamSmith]

parsley, with all due respect to your uncle, and I have a father who could be described just as you described your uncle, so I understand what you're saying

BUT, I'm not talking about fashion here, the only thing seen on that front was this man's sweater,

I'm talking about the way in which he presented himself, to the nation and as represenative of "farmers"

Maybe some people like that quaint notion of a thoughtful hayseed, scrapping a tough living off the land.

but I for one do not like being stereotyped as such.

I consider myself a typical middle class maybe even upper middle class Canadian no different that any other owner of any small bussiness in any city accross the country.

But unfortunatly the national media will only put a farmer on camera, so long as looks like he just came in from doing chores.

I consider that to be completly non-represenative of any successful farmer that I know.

The very least Sigurdson could have done before he set out to speak to the national news would be shave, comb his hair and put on something that you wouldn't wear to do chores in.

Unless of course you do want that perception presented that "this is the first time I've ever bin off the farm to the big city.

[AdamSmith]

parsley,

images are powerful communication tools, and I can't help it if the image I saw made me think of Ted Kaczynski.

[parsley]

But in the final analyis, he was there, and presented his vision.

I did not.

[parsley]

Read Jane Jacobs.

She is astoundingly interesting, visionary, acute, connectingly worldly, global, observant about systems. Not that I always agree with her,either.

And then google her picture.

I am sure Paris Hilton would shudder.

Interestingly, they both have a method of getting their message out.

I didn't go to Winnipeg, so I cannot complain, AS.

Parsley