A newly-elected director on the Canadian Wheat Board is concerned about a Private Member's Bill coming from Ontario MP Bruce Stanton.

Bill C-619 would give farmers the ability to "opt out" of marketing their grain through the CWB.

"I don't really think this bill is anything new, from what we've seen in the past. It would lead to the dismantling and destruction of the Canadian Wheat Board, because this bill creates this fictional dual market," says Wells. He says a similar concept in Australia proved unworkable and eventually led to the dismantling of the Australian Wheat Board.

"I'm concerned that the government is still trying to ram this political decision down the throats of farmers. It really goes back to the statements that the Prime Minister made a couple of years ago when he said he was going to walk over any opposition to his plans for the Canadian Wheat Board," he says.

Wells feels the bill goes against what producers want, pointing out that four of the five directors elected to the Board in fall strongly support its single desk marketing system.

~ Friday, February 18, 2011 ~