Jim Chatenay says the Canadian Wheat Board’s new code of conduct is fine by him.
The CWB director from Red Deer was at the centre of a controversy over the previous code, which was implemented in December 1999.
He refused to sign it, saying to do so would be a betrayal of the farmers who voted him into office.
But he said the revised code is a big improvement.
“I think we covered the main things that I had concerns with,” he said.
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“It’s a matter of working in the best interests of all farmers and I really feel we can accomplish that now.”
Chatenay, a staunch supporter of dual marketing, didn’t like two particular clauses in the original code.
One said directors must act in the best interests of the wheat board and not in the interest of “a special interest group or constituency.”
The other said directors’ duties to the board took precedence if they conflicted with the wishes of the region from which they were elected.
Both clauses are missing from the new code.
Instead, it states clearly that a director’s primary duty is to act in the best interests of the wheat board, not the interests of the director, the government or a particular group of producers.
But it also says that acting in the best interests of the wheat board includes ensuring that the views and concerns of western Canadian farmers are brought to the board of directors.
Chatenay said that’s what he’s been wanting to do all along.
“That’s a big step in the right direction. It relieves the pressure from my point of view.”
But he was reluctant to claim victory.
“I don’t like to use the word victory, because that implies there was one side fighting against another, and there are winners and losers,” he said.
“But I do say that I’ve regained my freedom of speech. I feel more comfortable with the directors, with the board and with getting down to business.”
The maverick director, who is often at odds with the majority of directors, said he felt muzzled and restricted by the previous code, but doesn’t under the new one.
While the code says directors have a duty to support and explain official wheat board policy, it adds they are also free to express their personal opinion on board decisions.
