Newsroom
2003
CWB says Alberta survey flawed
November 12, 2003
Winnipeg – The CWB today refuted the conclusions reached by the Alberta Government on results of a survey done earlier this fall. The survey was intended to gauge farmers' views on marketing wheat and barley. Instead, it asked them to choose between the current single-desk system and an unworkable mix of open market and single-desk selling.
"The conclusions drawn from the survey conducted for the Government of Alberta are flawed and lead farmers down the garden path to an outcome that is not feasible or realistic," said Ken Ritter, chair of the farmer-controlled board of directors. "The real option for farmers is to market their wheat and barley through the single desk or through a completely open market. You can't have both at the same time."
When presented with a clear choice, farmers have consistently voiced their preference for the single-desk option over the open market. They have done so on four separate occasions. There have been three rounds of director elections. In each case, farmers have elected a majority of directors who support the single-desk approach to marketing. In 2002, three directors with constituencies in Alberta who ran on the single-desk platform were elected. Also, in 1997 farmers from across Western Canada had the opportunity to vote on whether they wanted barley marketed through the single desk or on the open market. Voter turnout was 75 per cent and 63 per cent voted in favour of retaining the single desk. This was a clear expression that the majority of farmer opinion was in favour of the CWB's current marketing mandate for barley.
Ritter also noted that, in spite of the claims to the contrary, farmers in Western Canada have exactly the same option as farmers in Ontario through the election of their directors. Farmers in Ontario elected directors who decided an open market was the best alternative for their marketing situation. The same democratic process is in place in Western Canada.
"The CWB and governments should be focussing on issues that can improve farmers' returns. There are a number of large issues on which the CWB and governments can work together," Ritter said. Working to reduce ongoing subsidies by the United States and European Union, increasing competition between railways for moving farmers' grain and establishing a framework for the possible introduction of genetically-modified grain are key to the future success of Canadian agriculture in a competitive world market. He also welcomed the fact that the Governments of Canada, Alberta and Saskatchewan have joined the CWB in an attempt to reverse part of the ruling that has closed the U.S. border to Canadian exports of hard red spring wheat.
Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.
For more information, please contact:
Rhéal Cenerini
Communications consultant
Winnipeg, MB
tel: (204) 983-4497