It’s no exaggeration to say the future of the Canadian Wheat Board hangs on the outcome of this fall’s CWB director elections.
To some extent, that’s been the case with every CWB election.
But circumstances have conspired to make this election unique and arguably the most important since the biennial votes began in 1998.
Here are some of those factors:
- Single desk supporters hold a slim 8-6 majority on the 15-member board. Eight of the 10 elected producers are single desk supporters, while two elected directors and all four government appointees support the open market. The chief executive officer is uncommitted to one side or the other.
- Of the five directorships up for election, four are now held by single desk supporters. If open marketers were to win two of the five seats up for grabs, the split would be 7-7, forcing the CEO to break ties on contentious single-desk related issues. If they were to win three of the five, open marketers would take control of the board.
- Three longtime directors won’t be running again after serving their three allowable terms – single desk supporters Ken Ritter and Ian McCreary and open marketer Jim Chatenay – creating three wide-open races. The two incumbents seeking re-election are both single desk supporters, Rod Flaman and Bill Toews.
- Ottawa’s plan to eliminate the $10,000 spending limit for third parties could open the door for farm groups, corporate interests, provincial governments and even the federal government itself to spend unlimited amounts promoting their views.
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Meanwhile, the CWB’s election code of conduct directs the agency to remain impartial and prohibits it from promoting any point of view or supporting any candidate during the election.
- The election is being held against a backdrop of a federal government that has said it will do whatever is necessary to end the board’s single desk marketing authority.
Given what’s at stake, a number of grain industry stakeholders said it’s crucial that farmers get involved and that there be a large turnout.
“Every poll shows that farmers think that they should be the ones to decide the future of the wheat board, and it shouldn’t be dictated by politicians sitting in Ottawa,” said National Farmers Union president Stewart Wells.
“It’s a chance for farmers to stand up and be counted and to exercise control over their own marketing agency.”
Anything less than a good turnout, and good results for single desk candidates, he said, will give the federal government an excuse to continue its efforts to dismantle the board.
Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, said she hopes producers realize the election is crucial to the future of the CWB and their farms.
“This is probably the most important election we’ve ever had,” she said, adding that given the Conservative government’s mishandling of the CWB file, the best chance for farmers who want an open market is to elect directors who share that view.
She urged producers to do their homework, weigh the issues and vote: “This is the time to have your say.”
Nominations don’t open until Sept. 2 but a number of candidates have already signaled their intention to run.
District 2 – There was no election four years ago, as incumbent Chatenay won by acclamation. Jeff Nielsen of Olds, Alta., president of the Western Barley Growers Association and an open market supporter, is running. A spokesperson for the pro single desk SaveMyCWB says the group has been organizing in the district and there will be “at least” one pro single desk candidate.
District 4 – There is no incumbent, as Ritter’s term has expired. Bill Woods, a farmer from Eston, Sask., who has been involved in West Central Road and Rail, intends to run as a single desk supporter. Rick Strankman, of Altario, Alta., who ran as an open market supporter in 2000 and 2004, said he will not run again.
District 6 – McCreary has also served out his term. Gerrid Gust, an open market supporter from Davidson, Sask., who ran unsuccessfully in 2004, will run again. Cam Goff, a farmer and businessman from Hanley, Sask., and a single desk supporter, will also enter the race. Jim Robbins, a farmer from Delisle, Sask., and a strong single desk supporter, said he is considering running.
District 8 – Incumbent Rod Flaman of Edenwold, Sask., a single desk supporter, will run for re-election. He is also the federal Liberal candidate for Regina Qu’Appelle, so may end up running in two elections at once. Paul Beingessner of Truax, Sask., another single desker who was a candidate four years ago, also intends to run again.
District 10 – Bill Toews, the incumbent from Kane, Man., will seek re-election as a single desk supporter. Rolf Penner of Morris, Man., a farmer, media columnist and researcher, will run as an advocate of the open market.
It appears voter eligibility rules will be the same as they were for the 2006 election.
The governing Conservatives introduced a bill in the spring that would have required farmers to have grown at least 120 tonnes of the seven major grains in one of the two previous completed crop years in order to be eligible.
However Bill C-57 received only first reading before Parliament broke for the summer.
