The federal government should announce its plans for the Canadian Wheat Board as quickly as possible, said the executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association.
“It’s important the government signals what its intentions are early on and that changes be done in a thoughtful and measured way,” said Wade Sobkowich.
By winning a majority government in the May 2 election, the Conservatives are in a position to follow through on their pledge to end the CWB’s single desk.
A main issue during the long debate over the wheat board’s future has been whether a voluntary CWB would be able to move products to market because it lacks grain handling capabilities.
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Single desk supporters have argued the board will have difficulties reaching deals with private companies competing for the same grain.
Sobkowich said major grain handlers have no strong views on the issue.
“We’re prepared to accommodate ,” he said.
“If there is some sort of role for the grain handling companies to play in the marketing of wheat and barley in a new system, we’re interested in having that described to us.”
He said the grain handlers’ objective is to make the industry more profitable for everyone, including farmers, regardless how the crop is marketed.
Sobkowich said he believes the wheat board can perform successfully in a system operating in the way the federal government has proposed.
The CWB would probably have to arrange partnerships with grain handlers but there’s no reason to believe that can’t be accomplished, he said.
