A Regina communications company has proposed to three farm groups that they hire the firm to co-ordinate a letter writing campaign in favour of Ottawa’s plan to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk.
The proposal was contained in an e-mail from Charlton Communications to officials with the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, the Western Barley Growers Association and the Alberta Barley Commission.
Company president Mary-Lynn Charlton wrote in the Sept. 19 e-mail that “government, MPs and others” have suggested that a letter-writing campaign is needed to support the government’s plans.
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“We must get into the game with letters to the editor in weeklies, dailies and agricultural trade publications, as the other side is embarrassing us with their propaganda,” Charlton wrote. She asked the organizations to poll their members to see who would be willing to sign letters written by Charlton on their behalf and proposes sending at least five such letters a week to various publications.
In an interview, Charlton denied there is anything unusual about the proposal and said it is an extension of communications work the company already does for the three organizations. She said there is nothing inappropriate about preparing letters for other people to sign, adding that the letters would be sent to those people for their editing and approval.
Blair Rutter of the wheat growers association said his organization will not take up Charlton’s offer, while Jeff Neilsen of the barley growers said the association’s directors will consider it.
Alberta Barley Commission management could not be reached for comment, but delegate Graham Marsh of Carstairs, Alta., said he was astounded that government MPs and officials would suggest that groups write letters to the editor to support their position.
“It’s not up to government to ask that letters be sent,” he said. “It should be the other way around.”
Rutter said the wheat growers agrees with the need for supporters of the government’s plan to make their views public.
National Farmers Union president Stewart Wells said the lack of letters from farmers supporting the government’s plans for the wheat board reflect the fact that most farmers want to keep the board’s sales monopoly in place.
“That should make the anti-wheat board groups nervous,” he said, adding CWB minister Chuck Strahl should order an investigation into whether government officials are seeking to manipulate public opinion by orchestrating a letter writing campaign.
Meanwhile, in Saskatoon farmers met to create Real Voice for Choice. The group formed Sept. 25 and will lobby for a farmer vote on any changes to the CWB.
