RED DEER, Alta. – A group of farmers has failed to convince the Alberta Barley Commission to drop its lawsuit against the Canadian Wheat Board.
“I’m pleased with the results. It maintains our support for the charter challenge and farmers want choice,” said Tim Harvie, chair of the barley commission, at the organization’s recent annual meeting.
A resolution urging the commission to continue its Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms court challenge against the Canadian Wheat Board passed 101 to 42, but not without some heated debate.
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A delegation of wheat board supporters came to the meeting hoping to convince barley producers to stop the lawsuit that is estimated will cost barley producers $500,000 by the time it goes to court next year. It is likely to continue to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Donna Macklin of Debolt said the money spend on the court case is “absolutely shocking.
“I’d say a lot of barley producers never knew this was occurring,” she said.
Another farmer said he has supported the barley commission at many meetings this fall, but wondered when the commission had adopted its anti-wheat board stance: “Exactly what is the Alberta Barley Commission’s policy towards the Canadian Wheat Board and how was the decision made?”
Harvie said the commission’s mandate is to find more marketing choices for barley, which includes lobbying the government to end the wheat board’s monopoly on export barley sales.
“That’s what we’re convinced Alberta farmers want,” said Harvie.
Roger Buxton warned Harvie a resolution at the commission’s inaugural meeting in 1992 urging the commission to concentrate its effort on research and not become a political lobby group was only defeated by three votes.
“I think the barley commission should be very cautious what they do politically,” said Buxton.
The Consort farmer said the commission has done excellent research work and he feels that’s where other producers want the commission to focus its work. The barley commission is funded by a checkoff from barley sales.
Harvie said when the commission decided to support dual marketing, the number of producers requesting their checkoff be refunded dropped.
“We’re still convinced we’re on the right track.”
Art McElroy of Calgary supported the barley commission’s fight against the wheat board, calling the fight not policy but a type of market development which is in the commission’s mandate.
Procedure lacking
There were also complaints from disgruntled members that during the debate Harvie wasn’t following proper parliamentary procedure when he chaired the resolutions. John Ross of Gadsby said Harvie’s decision to end debate without allowing points of order, points of clarification or the mover to close debate was a misuse of power.
“It looks like a deliberate manipulation of the democratic process which I abhor,” said Ross.
