There will be no quick or radical changes to the rules governing the operations of the Canadian Wheat Board and its export monopoly, says federal agriculture minister Chuck Strahl.
In an interview Feb. 13, a week after being sworn in as Canada’s 31st agriculture minister, Strahl indicated he plans to be cautious and holistic when considering what to do with the board.
As well, the issue of the marketing monopoly will not be dealt with in isolation from the issues of trade
negotiations, grain transportation and rules governing CWB voting procedures.
Read Also
Canada’s oat crop looks promising
The oat crop looks promising and that’s a good thing because demand is strong.
“It is not something you can just snap your fingers and make a change,” said the British Columbia MP.
“It involves a holistic approach to it and that’s why I’m suggesting it certainly can’t be done real quick.”
Last week, prime minister Stephen Harper appeared to be sending a signal that he wanted aggressive action on implementing the Conservative party promise to end the CWB monopoly when he appointed Saskatchewan MP and anti-monopoly campaigner David Anderson as Strahl’s parliamentary secretary with responsibility for the CWB file.
In a Feb. 9 interview in his Ottawa office, Anderson said he believed the government could and should act quickly to begin dismantling the monopoly.
“I’ve always thought of this as an issue of freedom and you don’t delay on issues of freedom,” said the southern Saskatchewan grain farmer and thrice elected MP.
“But I will get my mandate from the minister on what he wants me to do.”
The next day, and again on Feb. 13, Strahl told Anderson that caution will be the watchword on the file.
“I haven’t given David any mandate to develop legislation or to do anything that profound with the Canadian Wheat Board,” Strahl said.
“When I talked to David, I said that in my opinion you can’t deal with the wheat board in isolation.”
Strahl said the government must decide how to proceed with the promised review of the Canadian Grain Commission, how to react to a panel report on CWB elections, how to handle World Trade Organization talks over state trading enterprises and how to deal with issues of rail deregulation, rail car ownership and access to export points.
“Even farmers demanding a dual market option understand that there is no sense in saying you have options to market grain if there is no access to rail lines to deliver the grain, for example,” Strahl said.
He said changing the wheat board monopoly is part of the Conservative platform and will be dealt with, but not quickly and not before a broad consultation with the industry. It will not be part of the spring session of Parliament that begins April 3.
Although some advocates of a dual market have urged the new government to end the monopoly through regulation rather than legislative change, that likely would not be approved by a House of Commons that the minority Conservatives do not control. Strahl ruled out that option.
He said changes to wheat board marketing power will be dealt with through legislative changes that include a more comprehensive view of how the board should be updated.
“If we’re going to open the wheat board act, then any changes will be made after discussions in the House,” said the agriculture minister. “I can’t make them unilaterally.”
Strahl did not commit to a farmer vote on the wheat board issue but promised that farmers and industry players will not be caught by surprise when changes come.
“I want assurances that what we’re moving to is beneficial for the industry,” he said about the planned consultations. “I’m not just interested in change for philosophical sake. It’s better to go ‘business as usual’ for now and make changes as we consult and as we can.”
Strahl said farmers have shown themselves willing and able to change but they don’t like surprises.
“Farmers and the agri-food industry are cutting edge performers and they are doing everything they can,” he said. “They just need to know with some assurance where we’re going from here. That’s why we have to consult with them. We’re not going to leave anyone in the lurch. They will have time to change and adapt as changes come.”
