Far fewer farmers will receive ballots to vote in this fall’s Canadian Wheat Board director elections than was the case in the previous election in 2004.
Preliminary numbers from election co-ordinator Meyers Norris Penny indicate that 29,100 ballots are being sent to eligible voters in the five even-numbered electoral districts.
By contrast, 47,378 ballots were distributed in 2004 to farmers in just four of those districts. (There was no election in District 2, which was decided by acclamation.)
That’s a decline of 18,278, or 38 percent.
The 2008 number will increase over the next few weeks as farmers who didn’t automatically qualify to receive a ballot apply for them, but the total will certainly remain far below 2004.
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Election co-ordinator Ian Craven of Meyers Norris Penny said the decline can probably be attributed to two factors.
- New voting rules – In the 2004 elections, any producer with a valid permit book for the current or previous crop year automatically received a ballot, as did interested parties such as landlords or mortgagees.
Now, as a result of changes introduced in 2006, farmers and interested parties must have grown one of the seven major grains in the current or previous crop year to automatically receive a ballot.
Producers who don’t receive a ballot can get one by signing a statutory declaration or providing the election co-ordinator with copies of a cash ticket, a grain delivery receipt or a crop insurance contract.
- Fewer farmers – It’s well known that the number of farmers has been steadily declining for years, meaning fewer voters.
Also, the number of CWB permit books has been declining, dropping by 19 percent from 2004 to 2007. The number of 2008 permit book holders is not yet available.
One outcome of a smaller voters list may be a higher response rate. It was a disappointing 32.7 percent in the four districts that voted in 2004.
“That would make some sense,” said Craven, speculating that the farmers who remain in business may have a greater interest in the outcome of the vote.
Meanwhile, some of those involved in the CWB election are glad the federal election will be held Oct. 14 rather than later.
The CWB election doesn’t really get rolling until after the close of nominations, which this year is Oct. 20, by which time the federal election will be history.
Some observers say the outcome of the federal election could heighten interest in the CWB vote.
CWB chair Larry Hill said the timing of the federal election is a double-edged sword.
It’s good in that it won’t overlap with the CWB vote, but it’s bad in that both campaigns, the federal election in particular, will come during harvest for many farmers, including some who may be running as federal or CWB candidates.
“Until farmers are finished with harvesting their crops, they won’t take much interest in either election,” he said. “Harvest will come first, that’s all there is to it.”
Rod Flaman, CWB director for District 8 and Liberal candidate in the constituency of Regina-Qu’Appelle, is relieved at the timing of the federal vote.
He had been bracing for the prospect of running in both elections at the same time, but the Oct. 14 federal election date has made it easier.
“If I’m unsuccessful in the federal election, I’ll file my nomination papers and run for re-election to the CWB,” he said. “If I’m successful in the federal election, I’ll resign from the board immediately.”
He added his preference is to win the federal election.
“My priority is to prevent Stephen Harper from getting a majority, because if he gets a majority it won’t matter who the directors are on the wheat board because there won’t be a wheat board for long.”
The future of the CWB’s single desk will probably be an issue in some constituencies in Western Canada and the outcome of the federal vote could affect the turnout and voting trends in the CWB election.
While the board won’t get directly involved in either election, Hill said the agency will monitor both campaigns to ensure any public comments about the CWB are accurate.
“Our role is to correct any misinformation that is out there,” he said.
