DYSART, Sask. – Michael Halyk is flattered by the number of questions asked of him at a district seven Canadian Wheat Board candidates forum.
“I think it means they see me as the frontrunner,” he smiles.
Never mind that many of the questions were less than flattering toward the wheat board’s sales monopoly, which Halyk favors.
The Melville-area farmer said other farmers are looking to him for answers after his 20 years on the board’s advisory committee.
“I haven’t always been on the winning side of advisory committee issues,” he said. “I asked for changes years ago. When they look at the alternatives they’ll know where I’ve stood. I’ve fought for change.
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“This is totally different (than the advisory committee.) This is big time.”
The Canadian Wheat Board holds a monopoly on sales of virtually all wheat and export barley grown in Western Canada.
The permit book holders in district seven are hurting from the highest freight rates in the country, Halyk said. It may be easy to lash out at the monopoly.
Most of the questions from about 100 people at the meeting were submitted in writing. One asked why the Canadian Wheat Board is “so afraid of dual marketing,” which would involve the wheat board competing with other grain companies.
Another asked why the board is “so intent on selling for below cost.”
First in line
Bill Cooper of Foam Lake, one of the eight other candidates and a proponent of a voluntary wheat board, said he didn’t have a problem with Halyk being the first to answer many of the questions.
“I don’t think they’re necessarily sympathetic to my position,” Cooper said, referring to the tone of some of the questions. “They’re analyzing a voluntary wheat board.”
Kyle Korneychuk, a monopoly supporter who farms at Pelly, said three previous candidates meetings were similar.
“The board supporters are always the quieter ones,” he said. “But this election is more than marketing grain.”
Voters wanted to know how changes in the way the board operates could enable more value-added opportunities, how each candidate would address transportation issues, and about recent blockades by American farmers.
Bill Rusk, a dual market proponent from Nipawin, said farmers deserve a greater share from value-added. He said one bushel of wheat makes 50 loaves of bread worth $50 and he only gets $4: “I receive less than 10 percent.”
On transportation troubles, dual market supporter Richard Behnke of Lipton said, “The seller must remain in control of grain movement so it gets to where it is needed on time.”
Monopoly supporter Harley Herman of Craven said the board has to be involved in transportation.
“We have a system that has deteriorated. People are being misled into thinking the Canadian Wheat Board is to blame.”
Jim Caughlin of Tisdale, said he would encourage a vote on dual marketing.
“The wheat board is afraid to deal without the security of the monopoly,” he said.
Jordan Hiller, a monopoly supporter from Southey, said, “I expect producers to have a vote on this. Maybe we need to get this settled once and for all.”
“The sooner we have a vote the better,” added Garry Schwartz, a dual market supporter from Cupar.
