EDMONTON – For Ken Larsen, the freedom of choice argument touted by opponents of the Canadian Wheat Board is all backward.
“It is a matter of freedom of choice. My freedom to choose the Canadian Wheat Board as my sole exporter,” said Larsen, one of 150 farmers rallying in favor of the wheat board in Edmonton last week. “My freedom to have a strong and effective marketing agency. My freedom to realize a consistently high price for my grain.”
Larsen, of Benalto, Alta. appeared to reflect the sentiments of the crowd at the rally and subsequent march held at the provincial legislature.
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Orderly picketing broke down as open market supporter Ken Stickland, an agricultural marketing consultant from Edmonton, arrived.
The march slowed down as protesters pointed fingers and exchanged com-ments with Stickland before continuing on their way.
The farmers were protesting recommendations made in the federal government’s Western Grain Marketing Panel’s report. It proposed the government remove from the wheat board’s sales monopoly unlicensed and organic wheat, feed barley and allow farmers to sell 25 percent of their wheat on the open market.
Walter Paszkowski, provincial minister of agriculture, spent 40 minutes meeting with three of the protesters.
“Paszkowski told us that he feels only 20 to 30 percent of farmers would opt out of the board given the chance,” said Cory Ollikka, of Waskatenau, Alta, after meeting with the minister.
“He proved to us that he hardly understands the realities of prairie agriculture. He said he sees no contradiction between having a single desk and dual market side by side and that as minister he doesn’t need to prove that a dual market will work, rather that someone else must prove that it won’t,” said Larsen.
