HIGH COST OF CHANGES
We don’t have to romanticize the pre-2011 wheat board, the real Canadian Wheat Board. All we have to do is look at the facts.
When the real CWB was in place, farmers received about 85 percent of the value of the grain sales. Only 15 percent of the total sale was used to cover all of the handling, freight, overhead, risk and other expenses. Eighty-five percent back to farmers — that’s where the real CWB set the bar.
Over the past couple of months, some grain has been sold for over $11 per bushel, with less than half of that making its way back to the farmer — 45 percent. And the railways are only taking about the same share as they usually do. The railways always have a lot to answer for, but they are currently being scapegoated by the federal government.
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Make no mistake, this is a marketing problem. Governments that would work with the CWB (pre-2006) fully understood the potential of the current marketing nightmare.
Since 2006, though, the (prime minister Stephen) Harper government refused to let farmers vote, refused to hold public hearings, refused to let the (House of Commons’) agriculture committee or the transportation committee hold hearings on the proposed legislation, and refused to hear from anyone that actually understood western transportation issues.
After lost sales are included, along with grain companies pocketing an extra 40 percent from a bushel of wheat, some are saying this is a $5 billion loss to Canada and its farmers in just this year alone.
Reckless is as reckless does. A series of reckless policy changes by the Harper government — destroying the CWB, undermining the Canadian Grain Commission, decimating public variety development, weakening varietal registration, charging farmers more for seed by increasing plant breeder powers, and tearing the bottom out of the AgriStability program — is costing farmers and Canadians dearly.
Stewart Wells,
Swift Current, Sask.
NO SIMILARITIES
The terms Canadian Wheat Board and CWB have been synonymous for 75 years.
CWB was a recognized brand name around the world signifying a consistent and reliable supplier of high quality grain which added value for farmers. (Agriculture minister Gerry) Ritz took that all away.
Without farmer approval, he destroyed the single desk CWB and confiscated all the assets that belonged to farmers.
He then grabbed the money from the farmers’ CWB contingency fund, added taxpayers’ money to the mix and created what is best described as the “Gerry Ritz Grain Company.” He invariably calls his new grain company the “cwb,” which sounds and looks a lot like CWB.
This identical acronym is not a coincidence. Ritz has steadfastly insisted that the CWB is still there for those farmers that want to use his “cwb.” He has fooled the public, but farmers see through his charade.
He has even been trying to convince the courts that the CWB has not been destroyed, which is crucial to his smokescreen defence in the lawsuits.
The fact is, only the real CWB added value. Its brand earned premiums for farmers on grain sales. It defended farmers against railway abuses. Its integrity and reliability was recognized worldwide. It added efficiency to grain handling and transportation. It advocated for farmers. All profits went back to farmers.
That is all gone now. The Gerry Ritz Grain Company, called “cwb,” does none of the above. It does not add value for farmers. Ritz’s “cwb” is not the real CWB because it is just a grain company.
So really, the CWB no longer exists. If Ritz were being honest he would stop calling his new grain company the “cwb” because it’s not even remotely similar to what he took away from farmers.
Leo Howse,
Porcupine Plain, Sask.
BILL C-30 WORKS
Recognizing the rail logistics challenges facing all shippers across the Prairies, our government took needed and appropriate action.
Two weeks ago, our government tabled legislation (Bill C-30) that will improve rail logistics for all commodities.
Bill C-30 will expand oversight of grain movements by requiring additional, more timely and accurate data from the railways to increase the transparency of railway, port and terminal performance across the supply chain, corridor by corridor.
This bill will also mandate grain volume requirements at a minimum of one million metric tonnes per week. While some groups have arbitrarily called for a higher figure, our government is taking the responsible, rational approach.
The one million metric tonnes figure will ensure a record volume of grain is moved while not hampering the flow of other commodities. Our government understands that a strong Canadian economy relies on timely rail service for all commodities.
Should the railways not meet this ambitious but achievable target, they face fines of up to $100,000 a day.
While some have called for larger fines, the reality is that fines don’t move grain. Our government believes a well-functioning rail logistics system will serve Canada’s economy far better than collecting fines.
Bill C-30 will also increase the interswitching distances from 30 kilometres to 160 km for all commodities on the Prairies, allowing for practical access to more than one railway to 150 prairie grain elevators, compared to just 14 with that access today.
This legislation will amend the Canada Grain Act to strengthen delivery contracts between producers and elevators.This bill will also add greater clarity to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) as requested by all shippers across Canada.
Based on feedback at numerous roundtables across the Prairies and at parliamentary committee, this bill now includes the ability for the Canadian Transportation Agency to order compensation from railways to shippers for failure to meet service standards as outlined in SLAs.
We are also expediting the review of the Canada Transportation Act with an early focus on rail transportation.
Our efforts will continue to concentrate on improving logistics across the supply chain for all commodities. Our economy needs a system that works today and in the future. Our government encourages all MPs to support farmers and all shippers by passing this important bill as quickly as possible.
Gerry Ritz,
federal agriculture minister,
GO GREEN
If, in your heart, you are a real Conservative and not a Western Reformer like (prime minister Stephen) Harper the Terrible, then you should have a close look at the Green Party. They are the natural successor to the late, lamented Progressive Conservative party.
Leo Young,
Vernon, B.C.
DESCRIPTION PLEASE
Re: Letter written by Mike Bray, WP March 6
Mr. Bray makes reference to a deal between Minnesota and Manitoba Hydro where Manitoba Hydro will store excess power from Minnesota.
Question — Could Mr. Bray describe the vessel to hold this electricity?
C. V. Murray,
Comox, B.C.
SUPPORT ORGANIC
Where in la-la land do people like Ted Menzies and Kevin Hursh hide? All those people who think that the consumer does not want to know if any of the food they buy contains GMO are sadly mistaken. We want to know so we can avoid any GMO contamination.
There will be another worldwide march again Monsanto on May 24, 2014. Please check for a location near you and join us as more small communities are taking part every year.
How can farmers in Third World countries possibly buy new seed every year from these multinational companies?
They can’t, and many are committing suicide because they can’t afford seed anymore to feed their families.
More and more organic markets are opening, as are organic milling companies. We support them.
Elaine Sloan,
Busby, Alta.
