OTTAWA (Staff) – In the build-up to this week’s House of Commons opening, Parliament Hill last week heard two conflicting lobbyists’ views about how to deal with the Canadian Wheat Board.
On Sept. 11, a high-level delegation from the Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board used a general lobby visit to remind the government that in Ontario, the decision on the CWB will be viewed as an indication of its support for orderly marketing.
Ontario wheat board supporters, like many other Ontario farm leaders, have been arguing the Canadian Wheat Board should maintain its export monopoly unless farmers clearly indicate otherwise.
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“We have made it clear that we are interested in what the government does on this,” said Ontario board second vice-president Gus Sonneveld. “We will be watching.”
Other point of view
The next day, a prairie delegation from the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association told officials on Parliament Hill and in the Prime Minister’s Office that introduction of some market competition is the only way to save the CWB.
“We think the board should have more tools in its tool kit,” said wheat growers president Larry Maguire. “We wanted to let people here know we are not out to destroy the board. We want to see it reformed.”
Maguire said that was the message taken to a meeting with an economic adviser to prime minister Jean ChrŽtien.
“In Regina, the prime minister said he did not want to see the wheat board destroyed and we wanted him to know we do not either,” said Maguire. “We thought it was necessary to get that message across. To reform it is not to destroy it.”
He said the government gave no hint of what it will announce in this autumn’s package of wheat board reforms.
“They are not going to tip their hand, certainly not to the wheat growers,” said the Brandon-area farmer.
