One of the things "Canada's New Government" wants to do is to change the way Canadian farmers market their products. That will include the relatively controversial initiative of breaking the monopoly that the Canadian Wheat Board has when it comes to marketing Canadian wheat and barley. Apparently, the Wheat Board has been telling people it doesn't think much of the idea from "Canada's New Government."
So yesterday, Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl told the Wheat Board that "Canada's New Government" doesn't want to hear it anymore ...
"Canada’s New Government wants to provide greater freedom of marketing choice for Western Canadian grain farmers, allow them to maximize their returns, and preserve a strong, voluntary and viable CWB.
The CWB reports to Parliament through me, and should not be attempting to undermine this government’s policy objectives. . . .
The Wheat Board's Chairman -- who runs a farm near Kindersley, Saskatchewan -- Ken Ritter says -- oh yeah?:
"As an organization, we are fully aware of the extensive debate surrounding the future of the CWB. We believe that it is critical that farmers have the benefit of a free and open debate. Any restrictions which stifle this debate will not do it justice.

Our position has always been that farmers, through the plebiscite called for under the CWB Act, must vote on any changes to the mandate of the organization. The CWB works on behalf of the farmers of Western Canada, and it is the farmers of Western Canada who should decide its future."

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