A former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool executive is the new chair of the Canadian Wheat Board.
Bruce Johnson, who headed up the pool’s grain group before being fired from that post in 1999, was selected by the wheat board’s board of directors as its new chair Dec. 19. Johnson has served on the CWB’s board since his appointment by then-agriculture minister Chuck Strahl in 2006.
“I look forward to the opportunity to serve farmers during this time of great change as we transition to a competitive market environment,” Johnson said in a news release.
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Johnson wasn’t made available to The Western Producer for comment.
He replaces Allen Oberg as chair, who, along with the board’s other farmer-elected directors, was ousted following the passage of Bill C-18.
Oberg and seven other former directors are proceeding with their legal case against the legislation.
“If Bill C-18 is legal and it goes through as it’s written now, (Johnson is) going to be working for (agriculture minister) Gerry Ritz,” said Bill Gehl, chair of the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance.
“He doesn’t work for farmers. He’ll do what he’s told to do.”
The 15-member board has been replaced by a body of five federally appointed directors: Johnson, David Carefoot, Glen Findlay, Ken Motiuk and CWB president Ian White.
“Our immediate focus as a board will be to provide stability in the marketing of western Canadian grain,” Johnson said in the news release.
“As we move forward, our board will work closely with the CWB’s leadership team to offer farmers and international grain customers a superior package of contracts and services, building on this organization’s 76-year history, its expertise and its valued reputation as a trustworthy supplier of grain to the world marketplace. “
Johnson’s resume also includes stints as chief executive officer of Winnipeg-based Ag Pro Grain, CEO of FarmGro Organic Foods in Regina and operations manager of Northern Sales in Winnipeg. He is now employed in the propane industry.
