Parliament gets bill to end Canadian Wheat Board monopoly
Farm and Ranch Report October 21, 2012 The Harper government in Canada earlier this week sent legislation to Parliament that will end the Candian Wheat Board’s monopoly on wheat and barley exports from western Canada. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made the announcement from an Ontario farm where he said western Canadian wheat and barley farmers will have the freedom to market their grain as they choose. Ritz: “An open market will increase the number of buyers bidding on our wheat, barley, just as they do for canola, pulses and oats. Unlike what some people may claim the sky will not fall in an open. Instead, the sky will be the limit. And to reach that limit the Harper government has developed a comprehensive plan that will provide an orderly transition to this open market.” Farmers will have the choice of whether to sell on an open market or through a voluntary Canadian Wheat Board. The legislation will allow an interim Wheat Board to act as a voluntary marketing entity, supported by the federal government while it transitions to full private ownership. The legislation will also immediately allow farmers and companies to forward contract for the delivery of grain after August 1st of 2012. Allen Oberg, Chair of the Canadian Wheat Board says, “The government is taking us back in time; to the years when farmers were captive to grain companies and powerless against railways and they are doing this against the wishes of farmers.” A plebiscite conducted by the Wheat Board earlier this year had 62 percent of respondents in favor of retaining the single desk for wheat and 51 percent for barley. Fifty-six percent of farmers participated in the vote. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net.
