"To say that I'm extremely disappointed to hear that the Canadian Wheat Board is unwilling to discuss change for western Canadian producers would be an understatement," Gerry Ritz, the agriculture minister, said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, the wheat board's chairman, Ken Ritter, said the marketing agency had decided against holding further talks with Ritz on barley because of a lack of "common ground" between the two sides.
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Asked about the prospect of a spring election derailing the government's plans, Ritz was blunt.
"It means that the board has sufficiently stalled things long enough that they'll survive until after the election," he said. "When we come back with a majority, then all bets are off."
Indeed. I think we've just found a replacement for "When I get through with Canada you won't recognize it" as the Truly Terrifying Conservative Quote for the upcoming campaign.
H/T to Buckdog, POGGE, and Chet Scoville of Vanity Press who wins the booby prize for the best post title: "Nice Wheat Board; Be a Shame If Something Happened to It."
Well, except that the Wheat Board is currently defying the will of barley producers.
ReplyDeleteBut we don't really care about them, now, do we?
That depends on who you believe, doesn't it? If you're basing that on the plebiscite the Government conducted, the results are highly contentious. The CWB makes a very good argument that giving a misleading 'third option' made the results utterly meaningless. Comparing it to similar plebiscites in individual provinces giving only two options seems to bear this out.
ReplyDeleteThen again, this isn't my issue. You really want to take this up with Buckdog.
Two options don't reflect the vagaries of opinion amongst grain farmers on the matter.
ReplyDeleteThe simple fact of the matter is that the plebicite clearly demonstrates that a minority of prairie grain farmers favour the current system.
It's a no-brainer. I don't think farmers like the way things are; going to jail for finding a better market? Doesn't belong in a democracy. First and foremost we need the A.G. in there. I wonder why Ralph would fight tooth and nail to keep her out and keep the status quo?
ReplyDelete