MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Rod Flaman says he’s less like a gunboat and more like a tugboat when it comes to the Canadian Wheat Board these days.
“I’m over that stage,” he said on March 20, referring to his history of fighting the board at every turn.
“I really want to try to be co-operative.”
This is the same Edenwold, Sask., farmer who trucked grain across the border into the United States without an export permit, who challenged the board’s authority in court and who won a spot on the CWB board of directors in elections last fall after campaigning for a voluntary board.
Read Also
New MLA Tara Sawyer appointed to Alberta Next Panel
Former Grain Growers of Canada chair Tara Sawyer was elected to the Alberta legislature for the governing United Conservative Party in a byelection June 23.
“I have to admit that I’ve mellowed out a little bit,” he told more than 300 people attending a meeting in his district.
But he said he has not changed his fundamental position that the board should not have a monopoly over export wheat and barley.
Flaman believes farmers should be able to bypass the board and sell directly to pasta plants, flour mills and malt processors.
Organic producers should receive no-cost export licences, he said, because orderly marketing has nothing to offer them — no grading system, no handling facilities and no marketing program.
All producers should receive such a licence for 15 percent of their production, Flaman said.
During the question period, he was challenged by a couple of farmers who said they don’t want to compete with each other.
Avery Sahl questioned selling directly to pasta plants. He said the durum price would have to be kept low to make local plants viable and it wouldn’t be long before the large companies would demand the same.
Flaman suggested the single desk could be maintained for offshore markets and the North American market could be opened up, similar to the potash industry.
But his fellow director, Ian McCreary of Bladworth, agreed with Sahl.
“Prices are too low,” he said.
“We won’t raise them by competing against each other.”
Art Mainil, who farms near Weyburn, said farmers won’t know until they try.
“Just open that market up for two months and test it,” he said to applause.
“It’ll make the board a whole lot better.”
Several farmers questioned why the rules are different for growers in Ontario and Quebec.
McCreary pointed to the Canada Western Red Spring identity and said western farmers would lose on both price and focus if they didn’t have the board.
“Bull—t,” yelled a man in the crowd.
“You people are ruining Saskatchewan and Western Canada.”
Lumsden farmer Barry Farr asked why prices are lower than in the U.S. if the board is doing such a good job in the designated area.
“Where is the money?” he asked.
“I want out,” added Rick Wildfong, of Craik.
Rough ride
After the meeting, McCreary said many people privately conveyed positive comments to him. He said he was anticipating a bit of a rough ride in Flaman’s district.
Flaman said he’s getting a rough ride himself.
“Some of (his supporters) are pretty upset with me right now,” he said.
“Give me some time.”
He and Jim Chatenay of Alberta are the only directors who advocate a voluntary board.
Flaman said two votes won’t change things overnight, but he said he will keep working on the other directors to plan for the future.
He said dual marketers could win a majority in the next election in two years and if the board isn’t ready, it won’t survive.
