The Canadian Wheat Board will cease to be farmers’ organization under new legislation tabled today in Ottawa, said Allen Oberg, chair of the CWB’s governing board of directors. [Click on Pic to learn more]
“This bill is worse than anything we could have imagined,” said Struthers. “The federal government is completely eliminating the ability of the CWB to be farmer run. The interim board is government appointed. Minister Ritz is essentially leaving farmers with two options: a privatized company or nothing. There’s no room in his plan for farmer ownership.” [Click on Pic to learn more]
As part of the ongoing commitment to farmers and the importance of the Port of Churchill as a shipping option, the Harper Government will provide an economic incentive of up to $5 million per year for five years to support shipments of grain, including oilseeds, pulses and special crops, through the Port of Churchill. We will also provide support through funding of up to $4.1 million over three years to maintain the Port during the transition period. In addition, the port infrastructure project presently funded through an agreement with the Churchill Gateway Development Corporation will be extended to 2015. Finally, in consultation with all stakeholders, our Government will explore options for the future of Churchill and the Port of Churchill. [Click on Pic to learn more]
“After extensive work by the CWB to analyze all possible alternatives for farmers, we identified concrete requirements for any new entity to succeed – and the federal government needs to address them,” said Allen Oberg, chair of the CWB’s farmer-controlled board of directors. [Click on Pic to learn more]
The University of Saskatchewan will use $500,000 provided by the CWB to develop strategies that will enhance the economic sustainability of Canadian grain production. The funding, committed in 2009, will be used over the next 15 years. The first phase will examine new policies that can improve agricultural research investment in Canada. [Click on Logo to learn more]
“We want to clarify exactly what is going on and discuss the implications for the future,” said CWB board chair Allen Oberg, who farms near Forestburg, Alberta. “We also want to answer farmers’ questions. We know there are many questions, given the misinformation circulating about what will or won’t happen if the single desk is removed.” [Click on Pic to learn more]
MNP has created a Web site (www.cwbvote.ca) and phone line (1-877-780-VOTE) to provide detailed information about the plebiscite to farmers. [Click on Pic to learn more]
Overall support for the CWB was similar to previous surveys at 67 per cent, while farmer perceptions of the organization continue to improve. Moreover, the CWB was seen as making progress in areas that farmers considered their top priorities, including getting premium prices for Canadian wheat and maintaining its high-quality reputation. [Click on Pic to learn more]
“Producers have the right, under current law, to vote on whether their grain is marketed through a single-desk structure,” said CWB chair Allen Oberg, a farmer from Forestburg, Alberta. “The federal government plans to change the law this fall to dismantle the CWB single desk without a farmer plebiscite.” [Click on Pic to learn more]
The Board of the MCGA feels that there is insufficient producer interest to proceed with the initiative. The Board of the MCGA would like to thank the many farmers who participated in the survey either on-line or by completing and returning the tear-off in the advertisement which appeared in April editions of the Manitoba Co-operator and the Western Producer farm newspapers. [Click on Logo to learn more]
The report summarizes outstanding issues in agriculture negotiations. The negotiating text for agriculture retains language that would remove the right of western Canadian farmers to determine the future of their grain-marketing structure. [Click on Pic to learn more]
The Manitoba Canola Growers’ Association (MCGA) today announced that it will be conducting a survey of prairie canola growers to determine if they are interested in participating in voluntary marketing of canola through the Canadian Wheat Board. [Click on Logo to learn more]
