The WFP had this little gem of an article on the CWB battle.
First, notice that the 7 wheat farmers elected to the House of Commons all belong to the same party. They also all support the elimination of the CWB.
So, which politicians should we trust on the CWB: the western wheat farmers who were elected by rural populations, or an urban union man?
Second, that the opposition parties would even have the gall to argue that eliminating the CWB will provide benefits to wheat farmers so as to better position themselves in voting against it speaks a lot.
As for the mandatory CWB issue as a whole the only question worth asking is this:
Should farmers be imprisoned for selling their own crops?
Maybe not imprisoned but then what should the punishment be for not abiding by legislation. Note that the Harper government did not eliminate the standard census or the more intrusive farm census. The punishment for that could be prison.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe there will be dual marketing. This is a false claim in my view. The CWB has no assets to market and distribute grain nor does the federal government wish it to have any.
Farmer who claim they wish to dual market might be surprised when the CWB completely collapses next year.
I'd rather not see them punished period. Selling a legal good, legally produced should not be a punishable crime. Hence, ending the CWB monopoly.
ReplyDeleteAs for dual marketing, I have no idea if it will work or not, and it doesn't really matter. If an organization requires force for its business plan, then it really shouldn't exist.
If wheat producers feel the need for pooled sales, they are free to create voluntary cooperatives; if they don't, why should they be forced to enter one?