CHANGING HATS
Judas goat — a Judas goat will lead sheep to slaughter, while its own life is spared — Wikipedia (2014).
The ministry of agriculture in Ottawa wears two hats. With one hat, the job is to assist agricultural related businesses; with the other hat, the job is to help farmers. With the pending sale of the CWB, which hat will be worn?
I remember the minister telling farmers the railways would be penalized if the grain was not moved in a timely manner. The regulations he drafted fit the industry plan to consolidate the handling system. One result is many farmers pay more to truck grain further to shipping points.
Read Also
Worrisome drop in grain prices
Prices had been softening for most of the previous month, but heading into the Labour Day long weekend, the price drops were startling.
This is another example of the minister not wearing his farmer hat.
When Bill Gates, of computer fame, can be quoted as saying competition is bad for business companies, the statement must be accurate.
If the government turns the CWB over to the farmer based organization wanting to buy the CWB, grain handling companies will not want this added competition.
As they did with Viterra, they want to absorb the CWB. Of the other reasons the grain companies do not want farmers taking over the CWB one might be their concern that if farmers buy the CWB, the farmers could see how they are being gouged by grain handlers.
If there are people in the ministry who farm, and the ministry is taking steps to prevent the farm organization from buying the CWB, can those people be considered “Judas goats”?
Lorne Jackson,
Moose Jaw, Sask.
QUALITY ASSURED
In Ed White’s article, “Canada’s quality, consistency questioned” (WP Nov. 6), a foreign grain buyer and former Canadian Wheat Board representative raises concerns about the quality and consistency of Canadian wheat shipments.
We, at the Canadian Grain Commission, would like to clarify that Canada’s grain quality assurance system is among the best in the world.
Recent changes to the marketing of Canadian wheat and amendments to the Canada Grain Act in 2012 have not affected the quality and consistency of Canadian wheat shipments. Quality issues are not about who is marketing Canadian wheat but rather the predominant grading factors in each year’s crop.
When concerns are raised about the quality and quantity of Canadian grain shipments there is a process in place to investigate. The Canadian Grain Commission becomes in-volved in complaints at the request of buyers and sellers.
Cargo complaints are formal complaints to the Canadian Grain Commission about quality or quantity of grain shipments that do not meet grade or specifications on the Certificate Final. The Certificate Final is Canada’s assurance that our grain shipments meet Canadian quality and quantity standards. We stand by our certificates.
In the end, what matters is that buyers come back each year to buy Canadian grain because they know what they are going to get, and because Canada’s grain quality assurance system delivers consistent and reliable results.
Elwin Hermanson
chief commissioner,
Canadian Grain Commission,
LAKE WINNIPEG’S DEMISE
Repeatedly, (Manitoba) premier (Greg) Selinger has stated his government’s push to build new hydro generating stations in the north to meet growing domestic demand and to sell more power to the United States and Saskatchewan.
This, according to Manitoba Hydro president and chief executive officer, Scott Thomson, is the only sensible way to provide future power requirements, rather than a natural gas solution. (Re: Gas fired plant can’t meet power needs, Winnipeg Free Press, Dec. 16, 2013).
Let us all hope that brighter minds exist today than when the JenPeg development project was undertaken. This goes way back to 1958. Let’s think about Lake Winnipeg.
This was a Canada and Manitoba agreement to jointly undertake the development of this hydro electrical potential. It was signed in 1966 by then Conservative premier, Sir Raymond Roblin. Construction began in 1972 and was completed in 1979.
The causeway installation at Hecla Island was completed in the early 1970s under the watch of the NDP government.
I am aware that grave concerns were raised during both developments as to how this would affect the state and natural water flow of Lake Winnipeg. As we all know now and realize that it has.
Of course, these were important undertakings and the concerns that were being voiced were put aside and well, just ignored. The government experts and their own scientists knew better.
The people who knew the lake, and there were scientists among them, were ridiculed for their opposition and opinions. For after all, this was progress.
Now, 35 years later, we can point out who is responsible and what is to blame.
Lake Winnipeg has become a huge toilet bowl. The flushing mechanism has been tampered with, and is no longer operating as it should.
An intriguing article in 2006, “Lake Winnipeg is Heading to the Morgue,” by columnist Francis Russell, points out many causes for the demise and situation of Lake Winnipeg today.
Nobody paid attention back then either; now the hearses are gathering for the remains.
John Fefchak,
Virden, Man.
RITZ’S ANTICS TIRESOME
Producers are tired of the antics of federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz, who continually rebuffs any producer who questions where the benefits are for the so-called “marketing freedom” that the minister has introduced.
They want to know where the missing $3 or more per bushel has gone between what producers receive and grain companies sell their wheat for (minus expenses).
Grain producers are citizens of Canada who have a right to ask questions and they should get intelligent answers from the minister, not name calling and rebuffs.
Ritz’s economic predictions regarding agriculture based on this marketing freedom make no sense on the ground.
Producers are now farming thousands of acres and yet total farm debt in Canada continues to rise. He continually espouses the benefits that “forward thinking” producers now have, yet many producers have some family members holding off-farm jobs to keep their operations afloat.
Does anybody know if Ritz is driving a school bus to supplement his MPs income?
Eric Sagan,
Melville, Sask.
