A total of 28,481 farmers are eligible to cast ballots in
the Canadian Wheat Board’s 2010 director elections.
Thirteen
candidates are running in the board’s five odd-numbered districts. The
election takes place through a mail-in vote. The voting deadline is Dec.
3 and results will be announced Dec. 12.
To help farmers
understand more about the candidates, reporter Adrian Ewins asked them
to describe their farm, experience, qualifications and positions on
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several issues.
They were also given the opportunity to comment
on any other issues they think farmers should consider.
Candidates,
listed in alphabetical order in each district, responded to the
following questions:
- Is the current grain marketing system
doing the best job, or are changes needed to increase revenue and
profitability for wheat and barley growers?
- Should the wheat
board advocate for farmers on policy issues such as transportation,
trade and input costs, or should it stick to the business of selling
grain?
- Who should control the wheat board’s operations and
activities, and is the structure of the board of directors working
effectively?
District 1
DANIEL GAUTHIER
Box 208, Donnelly, Alta., T0H 1G0 Phone: 780-837-0017 Website: www.dangauthiercwb.com
PERSONAL:Gauthier farms 5,400 acres with his wife and brother,
growing wheat, canola, peas and oats. Started farming with his parents
in 1984 at age 19 and took over the business in 1987, as a third
generation farmer. Age 45.
QUALIFICATIONS:Served two terms on the Alberta Canola Producer
Commission, during which time he also served on the Canola Council of
Canada, the Canadian Canola Growers Association and the canola variety
recommending committee.
He is vice-chair of Fahler Co-operative Seed Cleaning Plant Ltd. and
served as manager and chief operating officer for a time. He is running
because he thinks District 1 needs a director who supports the CWB
single desk.
GRAIN MARKETING:Gauthier supports single desk marketing
through the CWB, believing that when farmers work together they have
more control over key business challenges such as marketing and
transportation. He says a strong single desk CWB is critical to the
success of his farm and those of his neighbours. In an uncertain
economic climate, the CWB is a valuable tool that farmers can use to
extract the maximum value from the market. A clear, two-question
plebiscite should be held to resolve the issue.
POLICY ADVOCATE:Farmers in his Peace River district are a long
way from the market and the board’s market power gives it the ability
to assist farmers with transportation costs to export markets. The
board’s strong support of producer cars is also beneficial. He says
farmers should give the board a clear mandate to advocate on issues that
will improve their financial situation.
CWB CONTROL:The agency should be controlled by the 10 elected
directors. Appointed directors (currently five) should be nominated by
the federal government for their expertise in specific areas and
selected by the 10 elected directors. The appointed directors would vote
on issues directly related to their expertise.
OTHER COMMENTS:Gauthier urges all farmers to vote, saying it’s
crucial their voices be heard. He said the government should accept the
results of the director elections as a clear expression of farmers’
views on the future of the single desk marketing system.
HENRY VOS
Box 452, Fairview, Alta., T0H 1L0 Phone: 780-835-1992 E-mail: henry@votevoscwb.ca
PERSONAL:Vos farms with his wife, growing commercial crops
including wheat, barley, canola, oats and forage on 2,500 acres in the
Fairview area, after farming for 10 years at Keg River. Age 55.
QUALIFICATIONS:Received an agriculture degree from University
of Alberta before farming. Was involved in pedigreed seed business until
2008. Has been involved in a number of agricultural businesses
including a retail outlet for seed and crop protection products,
varietal research plots and Canterra Seeds.
He is former president of Alberta branch of Canadian Seed Growers
Association, governor of Winnipeg Commodity Exchange and president of
Alberta Canola Producers Association. Vos served as vice-chair of the
Canadian International Grain Institute. Vos is running for re-election
to continue pursuing issues from his first term and to bring about
changes to the CWB to better meet the needs of farmers and increase
long-term profitability.
GRAIN MARKETING:Wants to provide farmers with the freedom and
flexibility to manage and operate their
business with relatively few restrictions. Most farmers are satisfied
with board’s performance in international markets and in areas like
market development and branding, but would like better communication
with the organization at home. He rejects labels that divide farmers
between supporters of single desk and open marketing. He says what’s
needed are policies that increase long-term profitability of wheat and
barley farming.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The board’s top priority is to conduct the
business of selling grain. As long as that remains the case, the agency
can get involved in issues that relate closely to selling grain,
including transportation and trade policy.
CWB CONTROL:The CWB Act makes it clear the federal government
can direct the operations of the CWB. As long as the government
continues to provide financial guarantees for borrowing and initial
payments, it should be able to appoint directors. Farmer must eventually
choose whether to continue that way or to undertake a complete
restructuring of the agency with no government involvement.
OTHER COMMENTS:The future of the board depends on ensuring the
future profitability of wheat and barley, making sure farmers are
satisfied with the degree of control they have over their business under
the board system and improving the agency’s accountability and
transparency.
District 3
LYNN JACOBSON
Box 1914, Enchant, Alta., T0K 0V0 Phone: 403-739-2153 or 403-894-5208
E-mail: ljacob@shockware.com
PERSONAL:Jacobson farms 1,400 mostly irrigated acres with his
wife and brother, growing cereals, pulses and oilseeds. Also runs a
cow-calf operation. Has farmed for 35 years on a third generation family
farm, taking over the operation from his parents 15 years ago. Age 58.
QUALIFICATIONS:Elected as a delegate to Alberta Wheat Pool in
1991, remained a delegate with Agricore Co-operative (AWP and Manitoba
Pool Elevators) until it merged with United Grain Growers in 2001. He
served as chair of Alberta Soft Wheat Producers Commission from 2000-06
and was then elected to the board of Wild Rose Agricultural Producers,
where he is now first vice-president. He is also chair again of the soft
wheat commission. He has taken farm leader courses at the CWB and
Canadian International Grains Institute.
If elected, he will bring an irrigation farmer’s perspective to
discussions at the board table.
GRAIN MARKETING:Describes himself as a supporter of single
desk marketing, with marketing and pricing options, under the authority
of the wheat board. The situation in Australia shows that a producer-run
marketing board can’t survive in an open market. The single desk gives
farmers a say in grain marketing, handling and transportation. Without
the CWB, farmers would be on the outside looking in.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The CWB plays an important role in addition to
marketing grain, in areas such as transportation, trade issues, market
development, customer support, branding, research and maintaining grain
quality standards. Producers shouldn’t assess the value of the single
desk just by looking at grain prices, but also by determining the value
of all the other services provided by the CWB.
CWB CONTROL:Amendments to the CWB Act in 1998 were designed to
shift control of the board to producers. Government has a role to play
in governance because of its financial guarantees but the ultimate
control rests with farmers through elected directors. Appointed
directors should be appointed for specific business expertise rather
than for political reasons. Only elected directors should vote on major
policy issues.
OTHER COMMENTS:The CWB is crucial to farmer’s financial
well-being and producers should pay attention to the election in their
district and be sure to vote.
BRETT MEINERT
Box 1438, Shaunavon, Sask., S0N 2M0 Phone: 306-297-7810 E-mail: meinert@sasktel.net
PERSONAL:Meinert operates a 6,000-acre grain farmer with his
son, usually growing 70 percent CWB grains, along with field peas and
flaxseed. Farmed since 1969, took over the farm from his parents. Age
59.
QUALIFICATIONS:Was founding chair of the Saskatchewan Soil
Conservation Association 30 years ago and served for five years.
Currently serves as vice-chair of South West Terminal Ltd. and has
served in numerous positions in the company. He was also founding chair
of the Saskatchewan Mustard Growers Commission. Received a Masters of
Agriculture degree from University of Saskatchewan in 1992 as a mature
student. Wants farmers to vote for him because of his business
background and experience in various aspects of production and marketing
rather than for political or ideological reasons.
GRAIN MARKETING:Favours a single desk system, which he
believes increases the value of sales. It’s vital that the board have in
place a management and accounting structure that eliminates waste and
ensures those additional revenues find their way into farmers’ pockets.
The board has served farmers well during the last few years of
challenging market conditions.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The board should exercise caution in getting
involved in issues outside its basic mandate of selling grain. Some
issues are clearly related to grain marketing, such as transportation,
trade and market development, but other farm groups can take care of
many other peripheral issues.
CWB CONTROL:Farmers should definitely have control of the CWB.
It’s legitimate for the federal government to have some say in some
issues because of the financial guarantees it provides, but key policy
issues like the future of the single desk should be decided by farmers.
Appointed directors should state their views on issues related to their
expertise, but not necessarily have the right to vote.
OTHER COMMENTS:Says farmers should take into account his
record as a consensus builder and his business background and expertise
when deciding how to vote. His work at SWT Ltd. has given him a solid
grounding in issues like inventory financing, grain handling logistics,
grading and the importance of producer cars.
BRIAN OTTO
Box 419, Warner, Alta., T0K 2L0 Phone: 403-892-1339 Website: www.voteottoforcwb.com
PERSONAL:Otto operates a 4,000 acre farm with his wife,
growing a mix of grain, oilseeds and pulses. He is a third generation
farmer and has farmed for 38 years. Age 62.
QUALIFICATIONS:Has served as a director and vice-chair of the
Alberta Barley Commission and represented the commission on the Canada
Grains Council’s on-farm food safety committee. He also helped develop
the commission’s governance policy. He has been an executive with a
number of provincial farm groups, including the Alberta Winter Wheat
Commission, the Alberta Safflower Growers Association and the Western
Grain Research Foundation. Otto, who also holds a teaching degree from
the University of Calgary, is president of the Western Barley Growers
Association. He is running for election to help build a wheat board that
consistently demonstrates that it is getting the best possible returns
for producers and to make the board more responsive to farmers’ needs
and more business oriented.
GRAIN MARKETING:Otto declined to identify himself as a
supporter of either the single desk or the open market, saying farmers
are tired of such labels and rhetoric. He says he favours a system that
generates the best return for farmers’ grain and as a director he would
be bound to support the system that is favoured by the majority of
directors. As barley growers president, Otto has supported an open
market or voluntary CWB over the single desk. He said specific concerns
from farmers include lack of delivery opportunities for durum and lack
of transparency on the board’s guaranteed price contracts.
POLICY ADVOCATE:Farmers support many of the board’s
activities, such as market development, quality control and branding of
Canadian wheat and barley, but they also want the board to focus on
meeting farmers’ business needs and maximizing returns. He says Canada
has been losing world market share and needs to make grain marketing its
top priority.
CWB CONTROL:Says it’s hard to comment on the role of elected
and appointed directors without sitting at the board table and observing
the way the board functions.
OTHER COMMENTS:The board needs to improve its communications
with producers about programs and be more open and responsive on issues
such as prices and delivery opportunities. Wants to see a full internal
costing review at the CWB to ensure farmers know how their money is
spent. The board needs to increase its appeal to young farmers.
STEWART WELLS
Box 545, Swift Current, Sask., S9H 3W4 Phone: 306-773-685 E-mail: stewart@vote1wellscwb.c a Website: www.vote1wellscwb.ca
PERSONAL:Wells grows crops on 3,500 acres and has 1,000 acres
of pasture. Has grown a variety of crops over the years, including CWB
grain, pulses, oilseeds, alfalfa and vetch. In recent years has been
growing organic red spring wheat, winter wheat, peas and lentils. He is a
third generation farm on current site. Age 56.
QUALIFICATIONS:Took over farm full-time from parents in 1976
after obtaining agricultural engineering degree from University of
Saskatchewan.
Farmer delegate to Saskatchewan Wheat Pool 1990-94. Joined National
Farmers Union in 1997 and served 12 years on national board, including
last eight as president. Part of Canadian delegation to World Trade
Organization meeting in Hong Kong in 2005, and served as an adviser on
numerous Canadian national and provincial agricultural committees. Has
extensive experience marketing both CWB and non-board crops. His
engineering degree results in him taking a logical, practical approach
to issues.
GRAIN MARKETING:Strongly supports the single desk because it
provides higher returns to farmers than any other option. The idea of
maintaining the CWB while eliminating the single desk is a myth, as the
experience in Australia shows. Numerous studies, real-world experiences
and common sense make it clear that a monopoly single desk seller
extracts more revenue from the market than multiple sellers.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The board has helped farmers in areas directly
related to selling grain, such as rail transportation, freight services
and charges, producer cars and world trade.
CWB CONTROL:Farmer control of the CWB needs to be strengthened
to protect the board from political interference by a federal
government that has worked over the past four years to find loopholes in
the legislation and undermine farmer control. Simple changes to the CWB
Act would confirm farmer control.
OTHER COMMENTS:A good voter turnout is important to send a
message to the federal government that farmers care abut the future of
the CWB. Farmers should call the election co-ordinator Meyers Norris
Penny to make sure they’re on the voters list. The CWB is an important
marketing tool for grain farmers and should not be used as a political
football.
District 5
VICKI DUTTON
Box 1, Paynton, Sask., S0M 2J0 Phone: 306-441-6699 E-mail: v.dutton@sasktel.net
PERSONAL:Dutton farms 4,000 acres with her family, growing
wheat, barley, canola, flax, peas and lentils. Has farmed since 1974.
Age 54.
QUALIFICATIONS:Has been manager of Western Grain Trade Ltd.
since 1990. Her husband and three children are also involved in the
special crops processing business. She is a director of the Saskatchewan
Pulse Growers Association and a member of the Canadian Grain
Commission’s western grain standards committee, along with several farm
organizations. Has been involved with the Agricultural Producers
Association of Saskatchewan. Says a number of people urged her to run
again as a marketing options candidate after losing in the 2006 vote.
GRAIN MARKETING:Has experience selling grain commodities into
the international market and believes the CWB is missing out on many
opportunities, especially in niche markets. She says the key question
isn’t whether one favours the single desk or open market, but rather
what the board can do better under its structure. She says she favours
competition in the market and consultation with producers to determine
the board’s future. She will join the board with an open mind and
supports an internal review of CWB operations.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The CWB’s job is to sell grain, unless the
board can devise a better way of tracking farmers’ views on other
issues. She says more information is needed about what kind of role the
board plays in lobbying on other issues.
CWB CONTROL:The debate over control of the board needs to be
brought to an end. As of now, it’s the job of farmers to elect the
people they want to run the marketing agency. The board must be run from
the bottom up rather than from the top down. Appointment of directors
should be based on their expertise rather than politics.
OTHER COMMENTS:Any decisions she makes as a director will be
based on what’s best for farmers. The board of directors must be ready
to adopt new ways of doing business and be willing to seek new markets
and new varieties to fill niche markets.
ALLEN OBERG
Box 180, Forestburg, Alta., T0B 1N0 Phone: 780-582-2271 or
780-385-1124 E-mail: anoberg@telusplanet.net
PERSONAL:Oberg farms 6,500 acres with his brother, growing
wheat, canola, barley and peas. Also raises 200 cows in a cow-calf
operation. Started farming full-time in 1980. Age 53.
QUALIFICATIONS:Believes strongly in the CWB and what it can do
to help farmers. Started in the grain business 30 years ago buying
grain for Alberta Wheat Pool. Eventually spent 11 years as a director of
AWP and Agricore. Chair of Western Grains Research Foundation for four
years and nine years on the board of the Canadian Co-operative
Association. Elected chair of the CWB in June 2010.
GRAIN MARKETING:The single desk is the best system for farmers
by creating a system based on the price buyers are willing to pay
rather than the price at which farmers are willing to sell. The board
has market power as the only seller of Canadian wheat and barley. All
returns from sales are passed to farmers, with no retained earnings or
profit margins removed. Without the power of the single desk, the CWB
would become a small grain company or brokerage firm and would be at the
mercy of multinational competitors in terms of grain handling and
transportation.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The CWB is the only farmer-owned and
controlled organization that is big enough to take on grain companies,
railways and shipping companies on behalf of farmers. The board controls
20 million tonnes of grain a year, which gives it market power that it
can use to increase revenues and reduce costs to farmers. The board can
also speak for farmer’s interests on other issues, such as world trade.
CWB CONTROL:The federal government remains determined to
dismantle the CWB by implementing what it calls freedom of marketing
choice without properly consulting farmers through the CWB or holding a
fair plebiscite as required by the CWB Act. The board should have more
say in selecting appointed directors to ensure it gets people with
expertise in specific areas.
OTHER COMMENTS:The board can also help serve farmers’
interests by getting involved in issues such as overcharging for rail
freight rates, ensuring farmers have access to producer cars and
protecting the single desk at World Trade Organization talks.
District 7
KYLE KORNEYCHUK
Box 181, Pelly, Sask., S0A 2Z0 Phone: 306-595-2094 E-mail: kylekorneychuk1@sasktel.net Website: www.votekorneychuk4cwb.ca
PERSONAL:Korneychuk farms 4,200 acres, growing wheat, barley,
flax, oats, canola, peas, alfalfa and borage. He has farmed for 34
years. Age 51.
QUALIFICATIONS:Has a degree in chemistry from the University
of Saskatchewan. Has been involved in a number of farm and community
organizations, including director of CWB and Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.
Supported or was a member of Hudson Bay Route Association, Farmer Rail
Car Coalition and Prairie Alliance for the Future. Has also worked in
the uranium mining industry and the federal and provincial environment
departments.
GRAIN MARKETING:Supports the single desk. Farmers can get a
better return from the market by working together than by working alone
against each other. The board isn’t perfect but over time it gets the
best price available from the market. If re-elected, he says he will
work to ensure the CWB maximizes returns on all sales and does a better
job keeping farmers well informed on programs, policies and prices.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The CWB has a legitimate role in getting
involved in policy debates that affect its ability to obtain the best
returns for farmers. Directors are elected by farmers for a number of
reasons and the CWB is the only farmer organization that can afford to
get involved in issues such as transportation and world trade.
CWB CONTROL:A lot of political games go on when it comes to
controlling the CWB. The federal government has to have some say, but
the system of appointed directors has to be changed to ensure people
with suitable skills are selected rather than just political appointees.
Elected directors should make decisions and not appointees.
OTHER COMMENTS:The focus of the election should be ensuring
farmers control the board. The alternative is control of grain marketing
by government, grain companies and railways. After watching
institutions such as the prairie pools and the Crow rate disappear,
farmers can’t afford to be complacent about the future of the CWB.
TERRY YOUZWA
Box 668, Nipawin, Sask., SOE 1E0 Phone: 306-862-7669 E-mail: terry@voteyouzwacwb.com Website: www.voteyouzwacwb.com
PERSONAL:Youzwa grows grain, oilseeds and pulse crops on 2,400
acres near Nipawin. Grew pedigreed seed for 25 years and raised cattle
and other livestock. Age 51.
QUALIFICATIONS:Earned a degree in agricultural engineering
from University of Saskatchewan in 1982. Has governance and management
experience in a number of agricultural and other organizations,
including director of Agricore United from 1990-2007 and chair of its
audit committee for seven years, as well as federal and provincial
safety net committees, Soil Conservation Council of Canada and Flax
Council of Canada. Also served on Canola Council of Canada and chair of
the local justice committee.
GRAIN MARKETING:Rather than identifying what kind of marketing
system he prefers, he says his goal is to improve transparency and
sharing more information between the board and farmers so producers can
make better-informed business decisions and improve cash flow. The board
also needs to do a better job of responding to changes in international
grain markets. The current structure can remain if the board can
satisfy farmers on those issues. If not, changes will be needed in the
board’s marketing structure.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The board’s primary job is to sell grain and
improve farmers’ returns. If it does that successfully, it can then get
into an advocacy role in a limited number of areas such as global trade
talks. The board needs to be inside the room at trade talks rather than
on the outside making demands.
CWB CONTROL:A polarized debate within a board of directors is
not a healthy situation and the board must do everything it can to avoid
that situation. The directors’ role is to find a consensus and then
provide direction to management. All directors are equal in the eyes of
the CWB Act, and that should remain the case for now.
OTHER COMMENTS:He supports providing delivery options to
farmers, including continued access to producer cars. The board should
try to boost returns to farmers by improving CWB basis levels, being
more transparent and providing clearer market signals, lowering costs
where possible and implementing measures to encourage value-added
processing of CWB grain.
District 9
GARRY DRAPER
Box 873, Lenore, Man., R0M 1E0 Phone: 204-838-2135 E-mail: ghdraper@mts.net
Website: www.draperforcwb.com
PERSONAL:Draper farms with two sons and grows 2,100 acres of
wheat, barley, canola and flax. He also operates a 150 head cow-calf
operation. Raised hogs until two years ago. Age 54.
QUALIFICATIONS:Has 18 years experience working on elected
boards, including school trustee, and two years as chair of the
provincial trustees association. He understands how to put a team
together to work for a common cause. Has not previously been involved in
farm politics. Farmers from across the province asked him to consider
running for CWB director.
GRAIN MARKETING:He is strong supporter of the single desk,
which he says extracts the maximum revenue from the marketplace and
returns all earnings to farmers. The board has developed a positive
reputation among foreign and domestic grain buyers for its service and
efficiency. Only a strong producer-controlled agency with a single desk
authority can preserve and protect that reputation. The board has also
been flexible enough to make changes to benefit farmers, such as
producer payment options.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The board already advocates on behalf of
farmers in a wide range of areas, including transportation, legal
challenges, customer development and service, market research, branding,
world trade talks and the use of port of Churchill. No other
organization has the resources or expertise to take on those kinds of
issues. Someone has to advocate for farmers and the board is ideally
positioned to do it.
CWB CONTROL:The board should be controlled by the 10 elected
farmer directors. The government should have the right to appoint five
directors because of the significant financial guarantees it provides to
the board.
OTHER COMMENTS:Draper’s two sons recently got into the
business and recognize the value of the CWB single desk. The board
provides services to producers and customers that private grain
companies wouldn’t bother with.
JOHN SANDBORN
Box 215, Benito, Man, R0L 0C0 Phone: 204-539-2176 E-mail: jsandborn@svcn.mb.ca Website: www.votesandborn4cwb.ca
PERSONAL:Sandborn has run a 3,300 acre farm near Benito for
more than 30 years, growing wheat and canola. Age 57.
QUALIFICATIONS:He has taken director training courses and has a
certificate in management leadership from the University of Calgary and
a B. Sc. From Brandon University. Served as director of Manitoba Pool
Elevators and Agricore Co-operative from 1997-2001 and director of
Federated Co-operative Ltd. from 2004-10. He is also a member of
Keystone Agricultural Producers and has travelled overseas to study
agricultural production and marketing practices.
GRAIN MARKETING:The single desk provides farmers with market
power they would never have otherwise. The organization needs to
continue looking for ways to improve and serve farmers better, with
flexible pricing and delivery contracts developed through consultations
with producers. That will provide farmers with the stability of the
single desk and pricing and delivery choices similar to an open market.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The board needs to focus on selling grain, but
he also supports the CWB acting as a strong advocate for farmers on
issues such as grain transportation, trade, research, single desk
marketing, market development, Churchill and producer access to
terminals. The board of directors has a responsibility to get the facts
and stand up to grain companies, railways and government when necessary.
CWB CONTROL:Farmers enjoy the benefits of the CWB and should
be the ones who make the decisions about the board’s policies and
business operations. Farmer-elected directors should have a larger say
in board decisions than their appointed colleagues, although he has no
specific proposal.
OTHER COMMENTS:Farmers need to be aware how significant the
outcome of CWB director elections can be to their farm. If elected,
Sandborn will try to increase direct consultation between the board of
directors on pricing and delivery programs to speed up cash flow.
ERNIE SIRSKI
Box 121, Dauphin, Man., R7N 2T9 Phone: 204-638-5511 E-mail: ernie@sirski4cwb.com Website: www.sirski4cwb.com
PERSONAL:Sirski operates a 3,100 acre farm, growing grain,
oilseeds and special crops, including grass seed, hemp and borage.
Returned to the farm full-time from university in 1974 to take over from
his ailing father. Age 57.
QUALIFICATIONS:He graduated from the University of Manitoba in
1980 with a diploma in agriculture and later completed the chartered
directors course at McMaster University. Served on the boards of United
Grain Growers from 1993-2001 and Agricore United from 2001-07. Was chair
of the Canola Council of Canada’s finance committee and president of
the Manitoba Canola Growers Association since 1994. He is now
past-president.
GRAIN MARKETING:He says issue of single desk marketing is not a
simple yes or no question. He doesn’t think a dual market would work.
He wants to see a CWB that meets the business needs of the majority of
farmers, which he doesn’t believe is now the case. As a director, he
would follow fiduciary duty to the board but would also push for a hard
look at the future needs of wheat and barley growers, especially younger
producers who need better cash flow.
POLICY ADVOCATE:The board’s primary focus should be on
maximizing returns and meeting the business needs of producers. Other
organizations in Western Canada can advocate for farmers on other issues
rather than the CWB, whose mandate is to sell grain.
CWB CONTROL:The 10 elected directors should control the
direction and operations of the board. The five government-appointed
directors are there under the terms of the CWB Act, and changing their
role could be difficult. If they are contributing to maximizing farmers’
returns, then that’s positive. Ideally, they each bring a certain
expertise to the table.
OTHER COMMENTS:The CWB needs to be nimble, efficient and
flexible in securing markets and improving delivery and pricing
opportunities for farmers. All producers should take an interest in the
campaigns and cast a vote to ensure their voices are heard.
