It seems to me that Brian Otto and I agree on more than he might like to admit (CWB elections show need for changes,February 24).
For a start, CWB directors would also have preferred a higher voter turnout in the recent CWB elections, especially as turnout in the 2008 director elections had reached a record high.
But to put things in perspective, turnout in 2010 was consistent with levels we’ve seen in previous director elections and, at 41 per cent, it was certainly much higher than voter turnout in the two most recent federal by-elections in Western Canada: 26.2 percent in Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette and 30.8 percent in Winnipeg North.
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I’m glad also that Mr. Otto agrees with the board’s focus on speeding up farmer payments.
For the record, the board of directors is advocating that the CWB take over financial responsibility for adjustment, interim and final payments, thus eliminating the six-to 10-week government approval period.
Perhaps Mr. Otto would like to help the CWB in its efforts to convince the Government of Canada to improve cash flow to prairie farmers in this way.
Allen Oberg,
Chair, Board of Directors, Canadian Wheat Board Forestburg, Alta.
