Somebody help me. Why would our provincial government agree with
prime minister (Stephen) Harper that farmers should not have a say in
any proposed changes to our Canadian Wheat Board?
The CWB legislation requires that the board of directors be consulted
and that a farmer plebiscite occur before the CWB mandate is changed.
The federal government has refused both. Who can argue with any degree
of integrity that we who use and fund our marketing organization should
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have no say in its future?
Our province has an enormous stake in this debate and yet the silence
is deafening. Is premier (Brad) Wall not concerned with our share of
the several $100 million in premium that the CWB earns annually?
We have more short lines and load more producer cars than any other
province and these depend on the CWB’s single desk authority to function
efficiently.
The CWB has been our advocate in international trade disputes and
rail service challenges. Without its legislated monopoly it becomes just
another trader allowing us the freedom to compete amongst ourselves.
The process that the Harper/Wall coalition has endorsed to dismantle
the CWB is not only illegal, it is outrageously undemocratic. Our
apathetic silence is interpreted as approval.
Farmers need other Canadians to notice our plight and take note. Is
this a template that you approve of for future Tory attacks on other
Canadian institutions? Should a majority in Parliament mean an absolute
right to ignore Canadian laws and defy those directly affected?
The human mind has an amazing ability to protect our egos. However, I
cannot imagine the mental gymnastics required to justify swinging a
wrecking ball through the CWB and then calling it “freedom.”
Lyle Wright, Kerrobert, Sask.
