A government task force report on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board won’t be the final word on the subject, says a spokesperson for CWB minister Chuck Strahl.
A seven-member task force was appointed by Strahl to figure out how the wheat board can make the transition from single desk marketing to operating in an open market.
It held its first meeting last week and has been given four weeks to complete its report.
The board turned down the government’s request to be part of the task force, saying the government should first ask farmers in a plebiscite what kind of marketing system they want.
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Conrad Bellehumeur said the task force’s report won’t necessarily represent the government’s final position.
“The minister has been clear that once we have that kind of transition plan from the task force, then the government will consult widely with farmers and producers,” he said.
Bellehumeur would not say if the task force’s plan would be put before farmers in a plebiscite as an alternative to the present wheat board monopoly.
“We haven’t decided what the process will be, but we would like to at least present what the alternative would be.”
He said the government remains committed to eliminating the single desk and creating what he described as a “strong, viable, voluntary” CWB in an open market environment, something single desk supporters say is impossible.
Bellehumeur added Strahl was “extremely disappointed ” by the board’s decision not to participate in the task force.
He said the minister personally invited the board on two occasions, in late August and again at the beginning of September.
“The board are the ones who can provide technical data and expertise as to the current structures of the board and the things that might need to be done to develop a full and complete transition plan,” he said, adding the task force will take the board up on its offer to answer questions about technical and operational issues.
CWB chair Ken Ritter said the board doesn’t want to fight with Strahl and renewed the board’s request for more face-to-face discussions with the minister.
“We say, ‘let’s sit down and see what we can work out in the best interests of producers’, and we’re just flatly refused,” he said.
Bellehumeur said he couldn’t say whether Strahl would be interested in meeting with the board outside of the task force.
“We feel we have a clear mandate from Canadians from the election to look at transition and we’re proceeding with that,” he said.
