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Hon. Reg Alcock stated that he was not a supporter of monopolies

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    Hon. Reg Alcock stated that he was not a supporter of monopolies

    CFIB MEETS WITH LIBERAL M.P. Re: GRAIN TRANSPORTATION REFORM
    CFIB agri-business policy analyst Rob Meijer met with Liberal M.P. Reg Alcock to discuss proposed reforms to the Canadian grain handling and transportation system. Reg Alcock has been active on the transportation file for the last 5 years and recently chaired a Western Liberal Caucus report on reforms to the existing framework. Rob also took the opportunity to briefly present Mr. Alcock with CFIB's report card on the federal budget, emphasizing our positive reaction to the government's decision to provide meaningful tax relief for small- and medium-sized business, and consumers.

    In greater length, Rob shared our agri-business members' priorities for transportation reform. With respect to the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), Mr. Alcock openly stated that he was not a supporter of monopolies and agreed with Rob that the railways and the CWB have not operated in an efficient and transparent manner. Mr. Alcock said he, among others, is pushing for a 'transparency clause' for the CWB, whereby annual reviews would be conducted by the federal government to ensure the Board is operating in the best interest of producers. Rob agreed a transparency clause is needed, however given the CWB's autonomy from external audit, there is little hope the CWB would fully comply voluntarily. On the issue of rail access, Rob was told that for years the federal government has been pushing for open access with great resistance from the railways. The railways have claimed that open access would allow US companies with lower safety and customer service standards into the country. In fact, US railways currently have access to the Canadian market and yet have remained relatively invisible to our market. In discussing the 12 percent rail revenue cap proposed by Mr. Arthur Kroeger, Mr. Alcock said he is looking for a 16 percent reduction of 1998 revenues, while the railways are demanding a 0 percent cap of 1998 revenues - which happened to be an above average year for profits.

    As it is expected the federal government will move forward with grain transportation reform over the next few weeks, CFIB has already sent its submission to Transportation Minister David Collenette calling for deregulation, open access, transparency, accountability, and increased responsiveness in meeting our agri-business members' grain handling and transportation needs. Rob echoed these themes in our productive meeting with this important M.P.

    #2
    It is an interesting irony that one of the first expenditures the Treasury Board is going to have to approve is nearly $100 million to cover the deficit in the CWB's pool accounts. And Mr. Alcocl is in charge of both institutions!

    If you go to the Prime Minister's web site at

    http://www1.pm.gc.ca/eng/accountability.asp

    you will see that Mr. Alcock has a pretty important role as President of the Treasury Board. Unless the new approach by Martin is just political posturing, all government spending is going to get pretty close scrutiny.

    Does anyone suppose that the President of the Treasury Board might tighten the screws a bit on the CWB? And if he does, what might that mean? Even lower initial prices? Slower interim payments? Perhaps during the next CWB director elections, a rapid-fire sequence of interim payments designed to enhance the electoral success of the incumbents might be curtailed?

    Comment


      #3
      Probably higher wages for management, higher per diems for directors and new '04 lexus' for overseas staff.

      Comment


        #4
        Axiom;

        You must be having a bad day!

        I hope a sincere attempt to reform the CWB will occur, certainly the experiment since 98 has not produced the desired results of a more responsive CWB to Grain farmers needs.

        IMHO the first thing I believe The Honourable Minister of the CWB, should do...

        Is order the CWB to stop fighting against market CHOICE...

        AND REMAIN TOTALLY NEUTRAL on this policy issue that is supposed to be decided by the Farmers Electing Directors, not by the pooling accounts spending millions promoting the Monopoly and SINGLE DESK.

        There is little wonder the election results have been the way they have turned out, when the official CWB policy is to promote the SINGLE DESK MONOPOLY, in nearly all aspects of public communications.

        WHO can compete with this one sided huge spin machine with an unlimited budjet?

        Comment


          #5
          Tom, don't hold your breath on this, but there may be hope.

          There isn't much chance that Alcock will tell the CWB to stick to its job of selling wheat to the farmer's advantage. He is a CWB supporter, and a railway hater. As a result, any chance of getting a commercial handling and transportation system as envisioned by Estey is a definite no go. Alcock thinks the CWB is an effective counter balance to railway power. He knows nothing about the grain business.

          Never the less, he is a beligerent individual, and IF the CWB gets on the wrong side of him, he will make life miserable for them. He is a bit of a bureaucrat tilter. He doesn't really like them much.

          And secondly, if he did direct them to cease and desist on the propaganda stuff, do you think Ritter and Co. would listen? As per usual, they would tell him where to go, and carry on in the non-accountable way they always do. In their minds they are above the law, and until someone with the courage and conviction to stand up to them actually does, they will continue to run rough shod over farmers, industry, and politicians alike.

          So just maybe Alcock is the right guy. I know he won't be pushed around. We'll just have to see what happens in the next while. How Alcock handles and reacts to the pool account deficits will be interesting and instructive.

          Comment


            #6
            Tom, don't hold your breath on this, but there may be hope.

            There isn't much chance that Alcock will tell the CWB to stick to its job of selling wheat to the farmer's advantage. He is a CWB supporter, and a railway hater. As a result, any chance of getting a commercial handling and transportation system as envisioned by Estey is a definite no go. Alcock thinks the CWB is an effective counter balance to railway power. He knows nothing about the grain business.

            Never the less, he is a beligerent individual, and IF the CWB gets on the wrong side of him, he will make life miserable for them. He is a bit of a bureaucrat tilter. He doesn't really like them much.

            And secondly, if he did direct them to cease and desist on the propaganda stuff, do you think Ritter and Co. would listen? As per usual, they would tell him where to go, and carry on in the non-accountable way they always do. In their minds they are above the law, and until someone with the courage and conviction to stand up to them actually does, they will continue to run rough shod over farmers, industry, and politicians alike.

            So just maybe Alcock is the right guy. I know he won't be pushed around. We'll just have to see what happens in the next while. How Alcock handles and reacts to the pool account deficits will be interesting and instructive.

            Comment


              #7
              Everest,

              Will Alcock WIll pay attention to his cousin, Board Director Bill Nicholson?

              Comment

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