OTTAWA (Staff) – Politicians and farm leaders are cautious about predicting the outcome of the February barley marketing vote.
Jack Wilkinson has no such qualms.
“The indications I’ve been getting is that with a clear question, the wheat board side will win,” said the president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
He said it would be a good result. It would give board supporters a chance to make it more accountable, flexible and transparent.
Refusal to change
“I think a lot of the problems and pressures built up because there had been a refusal to change and that prevented a middle ground from growing,” he said.
“If it passes, it does allow a lot of opportunity to move quickly to get the board reformed.”
Federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale has said farmers will be able to vote in late February on whether to continue to sell all malting barley and feed barley exports through only the Canadian Wheat Board or whether to sell all barley on the open market.
