A group that formed to oppose Saskatchewan Wheat Pool’s conversion to a publicly traded company called for the resignation of the company’s board of directors last week.
Co-operating Friends of the Pool said the board should resign over the recent restructuring, which included elevator closures and staff cuts.
“The board of directors made all the decisions that led to the present mess,” said CFOP chair Ron Watson in a news release. “They have to take responsibility for their actions and be held accountable.”
The pool announced it would close 63 more elevators beyond the 235 facilities originally slated for closure, and eliminate up to 275 union and management positions.
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Pool president Leroy Larsen said the directors would not resign. He said the company is taking action to stop the flow of red ink.
“Does this CFOP think we should leave everything the same and continue to lose money?”
Larsen said if CFOP members are unhappy with the board’s actions, they should run for office at Sask Pool.
“They are perfectly welcome to take part in the democratic process in Saskatchewan Wheat Pool,” he said.
“There are eight (directors) up for election in the first part of April.”
The CFOP is also concerned about the sale of Robin’s Donuts, a profitable arm of the company, and the addition of outside advisers to the board of directors.
Meanwhile, in a letter to Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow last week, the group said changes at the pool have “aggravated” a “rapidly deteriorating situation in grain handling and transportation in Saskatchewan” brought on by federal policies and actions.
The group urged the premier to protect farmer interests and offered six suggestions of what the province could do.
These include expropriating elevators and rail lines to ensure adequate services if grain companies and railroads refuse to do so.
