Prairie farmers lobbying for a more democratic Canadian Wheat Board as a way to preserve it will feel “betrayed” by the timid reforms proposed by the government, says Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association president Larry Maguire.
He said despite promises from federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale that the board would be put under the control of a farmer-elected board of directors, the new legislation leaves control in Ottawa’s hands.
Maguire said it could convince some farmers to vote against the board in the February barley vote because they no longer will believe the present agriculture minister will make real change.
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“I think farmers will feel betrayed by this,” the wheat growers’ president said. “I think it could backfire on him (Goodale). This is not the privatization of the wheat board that people have been looking for.”
Legislation introduced to Parliament in December would give the wheat board more flexibility, including the ability to close pools and make final payments more quickly and to pay cash prices above the initial price if grain is needed.
It also allows the election of board members by farmers.
Elected board in 1998
Goodale has said an interim board will be appointed this year and the first elected board will take office next year.
He has promised the majority of seats will be held by farmer-elected candidates, although the legislation does not make that mandatory.
The government will maintain some control by setting the salary for and appointing the chief operating officers of the board and the chair of the board of directors. The government will write the rules defining when an elected director can be dismissed.
And Ottawa will review and approve the board’s annual business plan.
“We were led to believe farmers would have real control over the board if there were elected directors but I think that is an illusion,” said Maguire.
The fact the minister retains such power over appointments, salaries and direction means Ottawa still will look over the board’s shoulder, he said.
And because the minister will have to approve the annual corporate plan it “really creates more bureaucracy than what we have today,” said the farm leader and advocate of a voluntary wheat board.
“If the problem with the board today is that it isn’t able to respond to manage farmers’ risk as quickly as it needs to, then this isn’t going to help it be more flexible.”
The House of Commons agriculture committee will open hearings on the legislation next month. Maguire said the wheat growers organization will recommend changes, including less government control.
Goodale has said he will be open to recommendations for change in detail, but not in principle.
