THE Canadian Wheat board fall election promises to be a pivotal event
that will determine the direction of grain marketing in Western Canada
for years to come.
As in the previous two elections for farmer directors to the wheat
board, the issue that promises to dominate is whether or not the board
should retain its role as the sole marketer of all western grown wheat
and malting barley, as well as feed barley for international markets.
This time around, candidates who support the open market concept
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appear ready to make their strongest run yet at the directors’ chairs.
The election period doesn’t officially begin until September, but
already eight high-profile individuals have announced plans to run.
These supporters of a voluntary wheat board are in some cases pooling
their resources to get more effective message delivery, although the
unofficial candidates stress they are running their own campaigns.
The wheat board too has been taking a more active role in defending its
operations by paying greater attention to public relations and
responding more quickly and openly to criticism.
We have heard the argument from the wheat board and some farm groups
that the CWB sales monopoly and the farmers’ revenue sharing pool earn
farmers top dollar in today’s competitive international markets.
We have heard from open market supporters that the CWB is inefficient
and blocks farmers’ entrepreneurial spirit by forcing them to sell only
to the board. They say they could do better selling their wheat and
malting barley on their own.
The debate is often more about philosophy than the financial advantages
of one system over the other.
In the end, farmers must sort through the clamour and take charge of
their own futures. It is up to them, not politicians, to decide what is
best for their operations and their futures.
They must take care to vote according to what best suits their
long-term interests, and not out of desperation.
Neither the CWB nor the open market can make it rain.
Neither system can increase international grain prices, either.
Farmers worldwide are facing difficulties, open market or otherwise.
The United States government’s recent injection of billions of dollars
in subsidies to help its farmers demonstrates that open market farmers
there are hurting too, or would be without government help.
Getting rid of the CWB won’t change a failing farm into a successful
one. Nor will keeping it.
A decision about the board has to involve consideration of the big
picture. The coming election is no time for anyone with an opinion on
the matter to keep silent.
