39. Canadian Wheat Board
WHEREAS The Canadian Wheat Board was given statutory monopoly marketing authority for wheat, durum and barley produced in western Canada for export and for domestic human consumption;
WHERAS various studies of international sales data by reputable university economists, have estimated that the added value to Western Canada of single-desk marketing of wheat and barley is approximately $500 million annually which gives western farmers control of 10% of the world marketing exports;
WHEREAS the Canadian Wheat Board is a transparent grain marketing agency that provides producers access to the Auditor General’s Report, the CWB annual reports, regular Directors meetings and reports, and additional information through “Grain Matter News” and other forms of media;
WHEREAS farmers have consistently demonstrated strong support for single desk marketing;
WHEREAS according to the Canadian Wheat Board Act changes to the Canadian Wheat Board must be made in consultation with the Canadian Wheat Board of Directors or through direct consultation with farmers through a plebiscite;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada supports the right of farmers to determine the future of the CWB’s single desk marketing system through a transparent, democratic process independent of government interference;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada urges the Government of Canada to consult with the 10-producer elected directors prior to making federal appointments to the CWB’s board of directors;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada urges the Government of Canada to protect the CWB in the current round of WTO negotiations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada urges the Government of Canada to support and implement the principles of the CWB business plan call “Harvesting Opportunities” as presented in 2006, or future marketing strategies created by the CWB;
Liberal Party of Canada (Saskatchewan)
Liberal Party of Canada (Manitoba)
Liberal Party of Canada (Alberta)
I am concerned that the owners of small farms will find it difficult to do their own marketing, will find themselves in a weak position in relation to large agribusinesses, and will eventually go out of the farming business. While monopolies are usually considered a bad thing in a market economy, a monopoly marketing board is not the same thing as, say, a monopoly on the manufacture of cars. For obvious reasons, we allow monopolies in such areas as public transit and electricity service because it makes sense to do so.
Small farmers will still be able to be members of the wheat board, they just won’t be forced to join the wheat board. Its pretty difficult to argue against what the conservatives have done in this case.
I had occasion to talk to a Saskatchewan farmer recently about the CWB and was surprised to learn that the CWB’s main mandate is NOT to get the best price for wheat etc. but to simply sell all the wheat regardless of the price… Given this it makes sense to test whether or not there really is an advantage to the CWB as a single desk seller… The Cons may have gotten this right and if not it will reflect on them either way.
The wheat board is run democratically, let them decide their own future. The federal government should be no where near this issue, unless the WBO, won’t hold a vote. The liberals have it right, the conservatives are wrong. they are forcing the issue for he big guy.
We have heard from farmers who expect to earn more by managing their own sales. But we have heard from many with small farms who expect to lose if/when the board is dismantled. We have heard livelihood concerns also from some people working within the grain distribution infrastructure. The Conservative’s ideologically driven rush to discontinue the CWB totally ignores these concerns, and irresponsibly chooses one side over the other.
When the Tory’s have destroyed the CWB, Monsanto etc, will take over western grain.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/10/19-8
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I had occasion to talk to a Saskatchewan farmer recently about the CWB and was surprised to learn that the CWB’s main mandate is NOT to get the best price for wheat etc. but to simply sell all the wheat regardless of the price — Gunther made his conclusion after hearing it from only ONE farmer? Watch out! there are lots of gunthers around.
Harry
The discussion at convention should focus on what to do without the Wheat Board. How do we protect the family farmer? How to maintain our rural communities? How do we prevent big business from taking over the lives of rural prairie communities? What can we put in place to ensure that agriculture supply and demand are not controlled by the same big corporations? That is just another, less moral monopoly.
I have been out to a few save the CWB rallies now and have started a few local blogs and national blogs and as a result have heard a fair amount of views from many farmers on both sides of the issue. Although this personal effort hasn’t been all that extensive or been going on that long, I have learned a great deal of things already regarding this issue.
There are definitely two very different sides to the issue ,but the most destructive demon in to bush is definitely the one that’s advocating. To ram this legislation to end the single desk monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board as hastily as possible.
What that haste seems to want to waste is the hope of viable continuation of the small family farm, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Its also going to waste the opportunity for a large part the opposing side have sober look at the probable consequences of the this legislation. Which could very much turn out to be far more devastating to them than their opponents. Because in most cases they bigger, wealthier and posses a stronger entrepreneurial spirit than their counterparts. So have a great deal more to lose. If they think having their friends and neighbors holding a monopoly with them is restrictive or counter productive. Wait until some corporation who’s prime object is to make as great a profit as possible from them, holds a monopoly OVER them. while each farmer big and small, stands separately alone.
My assessment is that all privately owned and operated farms are going to disappear from the landscape. Probably the little guy first with some exceptions. Then the bigger guy to follow. No I don’t have a crystal ball. I’m going by history, present situations and the writing on the wall. The Canadian Wheat Board was created for a very good reason in the first place. Grains are a raw product and raw products are only exploited for their potential profits these days. If they aren’t priced affordability, to make a profit for resale or refining them into a more more useful product like food, there is no market for them and they won’t be purchased for a fair enough price to recoup even the cost of production.
So, what’s the writing on the wall? Probable the worst thing of all. The New World Order is coming. and the more self sustaining things that get done away or put under their jurisdiction is exactly what makes us more vulnerable to their rule.
I think the ending of the monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board is not just the destruction of the small family farm its the beginning of the end for all privately owned farms. And the haste to pass this legislation is to lay to waste any opportunity anyone may have to stop it.
we must keep the wheat board.there was a plebicite and it was voted largely in favour of keepingit.obviously the western farmer has recognized that they are better off with the monopoly than going it alone.it is not surprising to find the conservatives trying to run the country based on less than 40 per cent of the popular vote.they got it wrong on free trade(all the jobs went to mexico or india etc).getting rid of the wheat board helps the larger farmer for a while ( he will probably end up buying the little guy out for a steal)but at some point he will get bought out as well.within a few years our resources will be owned by either the usa or china.wake up canada:::::::::
I support this resolution, but would be bold and advocate that if the current government gets rid of it, then we Liberals should advocate bringing it back, if the majority of farmers, big and small, want it so.
Is the CWB really in the interest of all Canadians if it holds us back from joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership?
The voting pattern is misleading. On the first resolution re the CWB I pressed vote and it registered a positive vote…I wanted to vote against the resolution. Why can’t we have a yes-no clear possibility on all resolutions !!
The elimination of the Wheat Board is indicative of a much larger problem with this not Conservative Government
It allows huge corporations such as Monsanto to overwhelmingly control what we eat.
1) The genetic engineering of wheat is a very large cause for concern. Many people are having allergic responses to foods,without knowing why, because they are not aware of the genetics behind the super grains which are being created. For instance, I know someone who is allergic to seafood. When they enquired about the unduly long life span of Tomatoes (extended shelf life) they were told that they had been genetically engineered by using fish enzymes.This is all done in the name of money…
In America, the genetically engineered corn is fed to animals who were never designed to eat corn in the first place. It is ridiculous and even deadly. Cattle fed these grains, cannot digest them. This causes infections, which are treated with antibiotics. The antibiotics cause both cattle and people to become resistant to the antibiotics,this in turn allows superbugs to flourish and children especially are susceptable to the super strain of e coli infections from contaminated cattle and fowl meat, caused by feeding them the wrong food.
Not only are antibiotics fed to cattle, but fowl as well. Most of the products on Supermarket shelves, contain genetically engineered corn and wheat in some form. We no longer know what our food contains. At least if we buy from small Farmers we may be able to choose to some degree the products that we eat.
I myself have been found to be allergic to 86 foods! all this is being done in the name of progress. The bottom line is money, at the expense of our health. Children are being sensitized to items that they should never have been exposed to in the first place!
The overwhelming reason why the Wheat Board is being eliminated is to give the advantage to the Western Farmers which in turn gives huge Corporations the ability to knock out the small producers, leaving the way open for large consortiums to control not only what is sold, but what is sown…. The lobbyists in America for these large Corporations are also influencing our food in Canada, and in fact all over the World. It is time that someone spelled out the truth of the monopoly of big business at the cost of our health. It is extremely sad that so many Canadians are apathetic about almost everything…
I id not want to believe that Canadians are indifferent, but daily I am learning that there is a terrible malaise which has produced apathetic people, who do not seem to care what happens…everyone should be furious about the fact that this egregious Prime Minister, has been allowed to flourish unchecked.
What I want to know is why a person who has prorogued Parliament 4 times (not 3) has been found guilty of contempt of the Parliament of Canada, several times and who has shown no compunction to inflict pain on anyone who disagrees with his wishes, is still allowed to re-run for Parliament,as if nothing unusual happened…
His self proclaimed intent is to destroy the very Parliament as we know it, not to mention the devolving of power to the Provinces. All to allow legislation to institute the wishes of a hard core right wing group of only 29% of the population.
Peter Mansbridge keeps saying that “the Conservatives swept into power with a majority”… This is patently untrue, in that 29% of any population is no mandate to rule autocratically.
The Wheat Board Fiasco and many other wrongs forced down the throats of Canadians, such as Mega prisons for unreported crimes an assinine claim at best, the obscene cancelling of the agreements with Native Peoples. The Climate change fiasco and the lack of leadership in protecting Canadian citizens,are just a few of the many wrongs perpetrated on Canadians…never mind the graft and corruption over the In and Out scandal and the multi millions squandered in Clements Riding added to the fact that a 15 Billion surplus was squandered by the said party… this all adds up to one thing…Loss of representation of the majority and being held to ransom by a very radical right wing group, which is definitely not Conservative.
The Wheat Board is just the latest casualty…it is obvious that the take no prisoners attitude of this Govt. is not going to be able to be changed for some time…this is extremely sad…
I will leave it to someone wiser than myself to try and figure out what one can do in the meantime,about the Wheat Board and many other things, but it should be realized that while Canadians stand idly by and do nothing, this egregious Govt. will keep on dismantling Canada…too bad we have to wait so long to try and make things right…
I think this needs to be changed, that the CWB be funded at a level so it can maintain competative and allow farmers who want to use it to market their crops.
Go for the centre. Provide balance which to me seems that any changes should be done according to CWB structure but encourage the CWB to move away from its monopoly which does not suit everyone. Allow farmers to make choices even if this results in a competitive organization being established. Keep the process Canadian and look for greater produce processing opportunites in Canada. Look for constructive change not more staus quo.
Keep the Wheat Board but make changes that address what farmers need to compete in the global market…
We do need to balance this one. What I do not like areteh anti-CWB farmers attacking pro-CWB farmers.
HArper are you paying attention?