The directors elected in the recently completed Canadian Wheat Board elections are bringing a shopping basket full of priorities to the job.
The five winners listed a dozen different priorities when asked what they want the board to deal with over the next couple of years.
They range from speedier initial payments and a bigger role for the board’s farm business representatives to better policies for organic growers and getting the federal government out of the board’s business operations.
Given the multitude of issues already facing the board, it’s unlikely that all of the things identified as priorities will make it to the board table for debate.
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When asked what their priorities would be as a director, here’s what the five winners said:
• Henry Vos, the incumbent reelected in District 1, said the board must increase revenue to producers and provide more and better information to farmers on how the board does business.
• Stewart Wells, a newcomer elected in District 3, said he wants the board to figure out a way to keep the federal government from interfering in the board’s business operations.
• Allen Oberg, CWB chair re-elected in District 5, said his top priority is to figure out a speedier way to get initial and adjustment payments into farmers’ hands.
• District 7 incumbent Kyle Korneychuk wants to improve the initial payment system and keep politics out of the process.
“We also need to provide more transparency with prices and do a better job explaining to farmers how international sales and pricing works and translates back to producers,” he said.
Protecting access to producer cars and improving organic policies are also priorities for Korneychuk.
• Newcomer John Sandborn in District 9 also wants to speed up initial payments and work to bring in new programs and policies to meet farmers’ needs while maintaining the single desk.
“I think the board can also make better use of its farm business representatives in providing information to producers,” he said.
The new directors officially assume office on Dec. 31.
