The Canadian Wheat Board may be due for a name change, CWB minister Ralph Goodale mused last week.
During a May 14 appearance before the Senate foreign affairs committee to respond to American trade challenges to the board, the minister spent some time explaining that the CWB no longer is the government-controlled crown corporation it once was, but a corporation with 10 of 15 directors elected by farmers.
British Columbia Liberal senator Jack Austin wondered if the name should be changed, since the Americans seem hung up on the issue of government-controlled enterprise and the term “board” smacks of government control.
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Goodale responded that the name change issue has been considered.
The board’s foreign customers were asked and they said they would like to continue dealing with the name they are accustomed to, Goodale said.
But he said the value of that market recognition may be surpassed by the benefit of a new name to reflect the board’s recently legislated distance from the government.
“We may be arriving at the point where Canada Grain Inc. might be more reflective of the reality,” said Goodale.
