The Canadian Wheat Board’s chief executive officer went on the offensive last week, bristling at criticism that the board is stalling transportation reform.
Greg Arason took direct aim at comments made by reform facilitator Arthur Kroeger in a speech he gave to industry leaders at the Fields on Wheels conference.
Speaking to the recent annual meeting of United Grain Growers, Kroeger said he is puzzled by the board’s protest against becoming a port buyer of grain.
“It’s a little like a building contractor saying, ‘I can’t promise to build you a house because I don’t own the lumberyard and I haven’t got control of the cement plant,'” Kroeger told that meeting.
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Last week, Arason tackled that analogy.
“Let me start by saying that the (wheat board) does not want to own any lumber yards,” said Arason.
“However, anyone in the business of building houses has to be able to contract directly with the lumber yard.
“They certainly cannot leave control of those contracts to a third party, who may themselves be building a condo down the street.”
Arason also alluded to comments Kroeger made comparing the complicated grain logistics system to controlled economies in Eastern Europe before 1989.
He said the industry should cast off “the worn out and false accusations” that the wheat board’s participation in the system makes it a command system.
“I also hope that the next time someone stands up and says that the (wheat board) causes inefficiencies in the system, they actually have proof to back them up,” said Arason.
“Frankly these unsubstantiated claims are destructive and hinder the grain industry’s efforts to work together for positive change.”
