WGEA and CWB
Talk about the height of gall. The Western Grain Elevator Association’s recent press release is it.
For those of you unfamiliar with the WGEA, it is the “good old boys club” for our beloved grain companies. It is in this social setting that the grain companies get together to convince themselves how much they compete with one another.
The gist of the press release is the CWB is picking on them and they want big brother government to step in to intervene. Well, cry me a river! And a piece of advice for the Federal Government … don’t even think about it!
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This is the same WGEA who, walking hand in hand with the railways, so longed for the greener grass on the other side of Estey/Kroeger. “Give us commercial,” they said. “Give us competitive,” they said. Now they are getting it and screaming like banshees to get it to stop.
You see, the one thing they didn’t count on was the CWB surviving this ordeal, let alone a group of farmers running the CWB who have seen through their facade.
Now, after expending all that energy, time and money to undermine the CWB, and failing, it is time to face the music.
Unfortunately, much to their chagrin, they didn’t get to choose the music and they certainly are not thrilled with their dance partner, the CWB.
Why? Well, I think in large part it’s that the CWB is now insisting on taking the lead.
Perhaps before biting the hand that feeds you, you should give some thought to the consequences. Here is a little tidbit for the WGEA to mull over.
In the wonderful world of commercial relations, when you try to cut the throat of the one you work for, make sure you get the job done or you may incur the wrath. Perhaps you need to be reminded of the fact that you are merely agents of the CWB.
The whole thing boils down to this. I’m fed up with grain companies trying to pawn off their problems, which they created, as being problems for farmers.
They do this under the pretense of being concerned for farmers or looking after our interests. Your interests and farmers’ interests are not the same. Most times our interests are in conflict.
Don’t tell me any more about efficiency, which is nothing more than you transferring your cost to me. And don’t talk to me about possible system failures. The last time our system broke down, the railways were found at fault and yet the WGEA defended the railways against the best interests of the farmer.
I’ll tell you what. For the meantime, we farmers will look after ourselves because you have enough concerns of your own to look after. For instance, trying to get the Federal Government to impose the former system of railcar allocation as you are calling for in your press release.
Life is certainly full of ironies. Look on the bright side. You still have your railway friends on your side. You have worked so closely together over the past several years, perhaps you should consider making it official by allowing them full membership into the WGEA.
– Lars Bjorgan,
Demaine, Sask.
