The Conservative government will not use the World Trade Organization to end the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly if it can’t get approval in the minority Parliament, says agriculture minister Chuck Strahl.
He told industry leaders at a closed March 14 trade meeting in Ottawa that the Conservative government will resist efforts by the United States and the European Union to use WTO negotiations to end the right of state trading enterprises to operate monopolies.
Later, he reaffirmed the point for reporters, insisting the Conservatives will use a homegrown approach to end the board monopoly.
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“It will be an evolution, not a revolution, and when we do it, we’re going to do it in a way that’s good for the farm industry,” he said. “That’s why it is better to do it in Canada than at the WTO. It is the scalpel as opposed to the blunt instrument. We will do it in a way that we think will preserve the Canadian Wheat Board.”
CWB chair Ken Ritter, who was among industry leaders meeting with Strahl, continues to disagree with the Conservatives that the board could survive the end of the monopoly.
But he is heartened by the promise to defend the board at WTO talks.
“The minister was clear that he does not see the WTO talks as a vehicle to end the monopoly; that it is a domestic issue to be decided domestically and that’s pretty positive,” Ritter said.
“I believe Mr. Strahl is a straight shooter who when he says something, means it.”
However, while repeating that the new government will not move quickly to fulfil its election promise to end the monopoly, Strahl insisted it will be done. He said there will be consultation and a measured response on many issues facing the board.
He was asked if the choice of Saskatchewan farmer and anti-monopoly campaigner David Anderson as his parliamentary secretary was a signal that the Conservatives are serious about the issue. The minister said there is no need to look for subtle signals.
“The signal is our campaign book,” he said. “The signal is we want to move to dual marketing but the wiser course is to do it in a measured way that looks after the interests of farmers generally…. I’m not going to go in there holus-bolus. I have no intention of kicking butt, of doing something wild and crazy.”
Meanwhile, Strahl urged farmer opponents of the monopoly not to try to force the government’s hand by illegally exporting grain across the border. He said even if the Conservative government doesn’t like the Canadian Wheat Board Act with its monopoly powers, it remains the law of the land until it is changed.
“The legislation as it stands is the way it stands,” he said.
“I can’t change it unilaterally. I have said to farmers ‘if you want to truck it across the border and challenge the system, just be patient. Change is coming.’ We promised that and we’re intent on that.”
Ritter said that since Strahl is signalling a slow and measured approach, he still hopes the minister can be convinced that rather than the government, farmers should decide the fate of the board either through their elected directors or a farmer vote.
