The Canadian Wheat Board continues to tell prairie wheat and barley growers how much money we will lose if we allow Canada to sign on to a new World Trade Organization agreement.
It claims that the powers and privileges that the board receives from our government put more money into farmers’ pockets.
They say these perks would likely be lost under a new agreement. There is another side to the story.
Producers of non-board grains, oilseeds, pulses and livestock have much to gain from reduced trade barriers. So too do our resource industries and some manufacturers and service providers.
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Canada stands alone, with the exception of New Zealand kiwi fruit growers, in trying to maintain the board as a state trading entity. Times have changed.
Even those who feel that the board is a net benefit to them can look at the other side of the equation. All of us, and especially consumers and taxpayers, pay a price for protectionism.
A new WTO agreement may not be attainable immediately but working toward one is better for prairie farmers than working against one.
Tom Hewson,Langbank, Sask.
