I would like to respond to George E. Hickie’s letter to the editor in the Sept. 23 issue of The Western Producer ( “Election meddling.”)
Our government has always been clear that western Canadian grain farmers deserve the freedom to choose how they market their grain, and we believe farmers are best equipped to make their own individual business decisions.
The Canadian Wheat Board’s own polling has shown that farmers want more options for marketing their grains. The CWB has failed to provide options of real choice for western Canadian grain producers.
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For example, farmers have had durum sitting in their bins for two consecutive years that the CWB has failed to market, and producers are forced to live with this disastrous situation year after year. Even worse, the organic growers are charged 25 cents per bushel just so they can market their own grain. The CWB takes its cut but does nothing.
The CWB insists they have a loyal base of producers who will want to market their grain through the board. That is fine. They should have that choice.
However, farmers who see opportunity elsewhere should have the same right that all other Canadian farmers enjoy. They should be able to choose who they sell their grain to and when, and for the amount they choose.
David Anderson,
MP, Cypress Hills-Grasslands,
Parliamentary Secretary for CWB ,
Ottawa, Ont.
