POLL SHOWS SUPPORT FOR CWB
A fresh survey among prairie farmers shows clear support for the Canadian Wheat Board.
Conservative Minister Gerry Ritz leaked just snippets of the survey last week – trying to twist the message as anti-Board. But the full results contradict his destructive interpretation.
For example, two-thirds of producers say they support the Board; they find its views quite similar to their own; and they're confident the CWB will maximize returns to farmers.
Two-thirds of producers also believe the Board gets higher prices from the marketplace because of its single-desk system. By a similar margin, they suspect a "dual market" would disadvantage the CWB because it doesn't own any elevators or terminals.
Close to 70 percent feel the more flexible pricing and delivery options recently initiated by the CWB provide many of the perceived benefits of dual marketing – without sacrificing the advantages of the single-desk.
This poll also highlights strong disagreement with the under-handed tactics the Harper government uses against the Wheat Board.
Specifically, 77 percent say the future of the Board should not be determined by politicians, but by producers themselves and the people they elect to be CWB Directors.
But Mr. Ritz is proposing the opposite – i.e., he has introduced a new law to eliminate all producer control and allow the Conservatives to kill single-desk marketing by issuing secret orders from the federal Cabinet.
There would be no consultation. No role for the elected Directors, or Parliament or the Courts. No vote among producers. No democracy. No transparency. Nothing!
If Mr. Ritz is so sure of his position, he should simply act under the law as it exists today.
Hold a fair and respectful producer plebiscite.
Ask a direct, honest question – "Do you want the CWB's single-desk system or the Open Market?"
And then abide by the results.
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