Two more vie for CWB post

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Published: October 10, 2002

Two prominent single desk supporters will be running in District 9

during the upcoming Canadian Wheat Board elections.

Don Dewar, past-president of Keystone Agriculture Producers, announced

last week he will seek election in the district, which takes in western

and northern Manitoba and a slice of eastern Saskatchewan.

Bill Nicholson, the incumbent for District 9, confirmed this week that

he will be seeking another term in that position.

Dewar is running on a platform that supports single desk selling

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because of the “enormous market power” it gives producers.

At the same time, however, he wants further changes made to the wheat

board. He said the CWB can work better by providing farmers with more

risk management tools and by accommodating farmers wanting to diversify

or add value to their farm commodities.

“I support the single desk but not the status quo,” he said.

More market pricing options are among the things Dewar, a seed farmer

from Dauphin, Man., would like to see made available through the wheat

board.

He also thinks the board needs a clear policy on new generation

co-operatives, which enable farmers to pool their resources to pursue

value-added opportunities.

Nicholson, a grain producer at Shoal Lake, Man., said single desk

remains the key to the strength of the board.

He will be drawing attention to what he considers the successes of the

wheat board in recent years, but will also be emphasizing areas where

he thinks more changes could be made.

He thinks the board has become more transparent and accountable to

farmers. As well, he noted the efforts to be flexible by giving

producers more pricing options.

“It’s been a time of significant change and a time that demonstrated

the board is run for the benefit of farmers.”

Nicholson said his goals are to continue to build a stronger wheat

board while developing more pricing options for farmers.

On-farm buying and paying farmers to store grain are some of the ideas

he suggested warrant a look. He said the board is always under pressure

to sell prairie grain as quickly as possible to free up farmers’ bin

space. However, there are times when it could be an advantage to keep

grain stored on farms longer if prices will rise by doing that.

Nicholson also sees the wheat board as an advocate for farmers.

“I think we’ve demonstrated that in the past by standing up for farmers

on things like transportation.”

Jim Downey of Melita, Man., announced this summer that he also will be

running in District 9.

Downey, a dual market supporter, gained prominence as Manitoba’s deputy

premier and industry minister under the former Conservative government.

About the author

Ian Bell

Brandon bureau

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