CWB had big value
I was surprised reading the recent transcripts of the testimony of Greg Meredith, agriculture and agri-food Canada assistant deputy minister, strategic policy branch, when he was providing testimony to the House of Commons Finance Committee (ED: Video, Meredith testimony begins at approx. 1:13:30 mark) about the Canadian Wheat Board. He described a CWB I did not recognize.
As a former member of the board of directors of the CWB and a member of the finance committee, I saw the CWB’s operations from the inside. That is why I have to question Meredith’s statements.
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His claim that the “government didn’t own the wheat board and so didn’t sell any assets” is flawed logic I don’t accept and neither did the federal courts. The courts ruled that although farmers paid for all assets and operations of the CWB, the government did not have to compensate farmers, so the government could do what it pleased when it disposed of the CWB and its assets. Is Meredith saying the courts were wrong? How does Meredith claim on the one hand that the government did not own the CWB, but on the other hand justify giving it away to the government of Saudi Arabia and Bunge Corp. in return for a promise?
If, as he claims, the government did not own the CWB and farmers apparently did not own what they paid for over 75 years, what owner did his department take it from, and how did the government have the authority to give it away?
Meredith’s apparent confusion continues when he states, “the hopper cars likewise had debts secured against them, even though they were donated by the government of Canada.” First of all, the government of Canada never donated any hopper cars to the CWB. Farmers bought and paid for the several thousand rail hopper cars that ran under the Canadian Wheat Board logo. So he can’t mean those CWB cars, given his remarks.
Meredith also seems to contend that the CWB had no financial liquidity. Yet as a board member, I remember a study done by one of the big three accounting firms indicating there was over $400 million in assets and the CWB’s audited statements showed that the net liabilities of the CWB were trivial. That is not counting any value being placed on the single desk, transportation co-ordination, or branding of Canadian wheat. So why does Meredith seem to think the money is gone?
Why would the finance committee allow these statements to be made and go unchallenged? Doesn’t it reflect badly on their level of expertise when they let such non-truths go unquestioned?
Sunny days may be here for some Canadians but not for western Canadian farmers who were bilked out of billions of dollars by having their assets confiscated and who expect diligence, honesty, and transparency from their new government.
Kyle Korneychuk
Former CWB Director
Pelly, Sask.
Ruling a disgrace
The Northern Gateway Pipeline rejection June 23 by the Federal Court of Appeal, and supported by our prime minister, warrants serious public scrutiny. It must be balanced against Canada’s trillion-dollar oil industry and the value of pipeline transportation construction.
Such a rejection can only be classified as a National Disgrace.
Prior to such a rejecting by a three judge panel and Justin Trudeau, they needed a journey to Vancouver and established a 30-day residence period with the homeless people on East Hastings Street, where people use the concrete sidewalks for a bed and food from the nearest garbage container for subsistence.
Upon expiry from their 30 days period with the homeless on East Hastings, they should move to Grandville Street and establish contact with the many street beggars, which would direct authorities on a much clearer idea of a human in need.
Thus our country could advance northern industries into a profitable living standard for all Canadians.
After the pipeline rejection, classification for Canada’s image compares with that of a Third World Nation. At this point in time, separation and constitutional reform is a requirement, making two Canadas, allowing the four western provinces the authority and wisdom to conduct their own affairs.
All Canadians must be brought to understand that our northern resources are valued in the range of trillions of dollars that require high quality expertise to conduct. We must never again fall victim to such industrial erosion as we experienced by rejection of the Northern Gateway Pipeline.
What kind of land do we want to leave to our future generations?
John Seierstad
Tisdale, Sask.
