Newsroom
2005
Voluntary CWB not an option for grain marketing
December 21, 2005
The Conservative Party's agriculture policy released today contains an option for western Canadian grain marketing that does not exist, says the chair of the CWB's farmer-controlled board of directors.
"By backing voluntary participation in the CWB, a scenario has been put forward that cannot occur," said Ken Ritter. "You either have a single-desk marketing system or you have an open market system. Those are the actual choices -- and they are choices that should be made by farmers themselves."
Ritter said the current democractic structure of the CWB allows farmers to decide how they want their grain to be marketed. In eight of 10 districts, farmers have elected CWB directors who explicitly support the single desk.
"This should not be an issue decided by either foreign powers at the World Trade Organization or by party politics in Canada," he said. "This is clearly an issue for Prairie farmers, who have a right to choose the marketing system that suits them best."
The CWB has carried the same message to Canadian trade negotiators who are participating in efforts to forge a world trade agreement. In that forum, the United States and Europeans are attempting to dictate how the farmers of Western Canada can market their wheat and barley.
The Conservative Party's agriculture policy states that "western grain farmers should be able to participate voluntarily in the Canadian Wheat Board."
"It is important to understand that this scenario could simply not occur," Ritter said. "Canadians need to make decisions based on realistic outcomes."
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 to over 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.
For more information, please contact:
Maureen Fitzhenry
CWB communications officer
Tel: (204) 984-0190
Cell: (204) 770-6066