LAKE LOUISE – Ralph Goodale says a forum to examine Canadian grain industry reform will be appointed this winter so it can start work before spring seeding.
The federal agriculture’s minister promise received a lukewarm response from the more than 300 Western Canadian Wheat growers at their annual convention at the Lake Louise resort Jan. 6.
Goodale said appointing the five member panel has taken longer than expected because he was occupied with trade issues last fall.
Wayne Kriz, president of the Western Barley Growers Association told the minister the forum is a case of “been there, done that.”
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Enough studies
Kriz said enough studies have been done on grain marketing reform.
“Farmers know what they want,” he said. The barley growers belong to the Market Choices Alliance which wants a farmer plebiscite to settle the question of whether farmers have the right to sell barley through the Canadian Wheat Board or privately.
Goodale said he still isn’t convinced.
“I’m obviously not as sanguine as you are that there’s no further need for discussion. I think some further period of careful analysis is required,” the minister said.
When pressed, he wouldn’t give his opinion on the concept of a dual marketing system for wheat and barley, saying,”that is the very issue that I want to explore.”
