A senior federal government official says changes being proposed to the operations of the Canadian Wheat Board likely would not end the border running that has landed some dissident prairie grain farmers in court.
“There is no guarantee that a minority will not continue to not follow the law,” Howard Migie, head of the Agriculture Canada grain policy directorate, told the Commons agriculture committee last week as it opened hearings on proposed changes to the Canadian Wheat Board Act.
He said government proposals to create a board of directors, with a majority elected by farmers, is meant to give critics of the CWB export monopoly a chance to change the rules if they can win majority support.
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But he conceded under questioning that the changes proposed by the Liberal government may not go far enough to satisfy those who want freer access to American markets.
“Some individuals wish to not follow the law,” said Migie. “They feel they can do better. There still will be some farmers who feel the legislation does not answer their concerns.”
Puzzled by defiance
Migie was answering questions from Bloc QuŽbecois MP Jean-Guy ChrŽtien, who seemed puzzled by the defiance of wheat board controls on exports.
“Will this put an end to the discontent expressed by farmers and will it deal with the fact that people are illegally exporting grain?” he asked.
Migie suggested that would be too much to hope.
He suggested to the Quebec MP that the case is like dairy or poultry farmers who would prefer to sell outside the supply management sector if prices are higher or markets more available.
ChrŽtien still wondered why the government is not being tougher with farmers who are openly defying the law.
