It’s recently come to my attention that the Canadian Wheat Board may very well become a thing of the past in the not so distant future.
In the prairies farming plays a major role in people’s lives, the small communities scattered across these provinces have come to be in no small part because of farming. These communities are sustained by it and live off it.
Having grown up in a farming community I’m well aware of the roll the CWB plays in the livelihoods and lives of prairie farmers yet I am completely unsure whether I should support the dismantling of the CWB or not.
In all the reports I have so far read or seen about the demise of the CWB no one is saying what the farmers themselves want. I for one would like to know. I could care less what the provincial vs. the federal governments want it should be up to those it will directly effect.
I was somewhat surprised by these reports to see that the success of Canadian producers who are independent of the influence of the CWB are being used as the prime example as to why the CWB should end.
95% of wheat and barley is produced in the Prairie Provinces under control of the CWB another 4% is controlled by the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board. That means only 1% of food grade wheat and barley is sold to international markets through individual producers.
I hardly think a 1% market share is the best representation for all of Canada.
Another point not mentioned is the CWB by being the single seller of about 20% of the worlds exported grain, grain which is considered to be the gold standard, has a significant impact on grain pricing worldwide.
Canadian grain producers are also significantly less dependent on tax dollars than many countries without a single seller desk. In the US 49% of a farmers income is from government subsidy, The European Union states its farmer incomes are subsidized approximately 43%. Canadian farmers are subsidized a mere 17% in comparison.
After being a part of Canadian farming history for nearly 100 years and continuously in place in one form or another since 1935 I don’t believe anyone can with 100% accuracy predict what outcome changes to or the elimination of the CWB will do to wheat pricing and the success of Canadian farmers.
The point is that this is a risk that only those who will be directly affected by it should decide whether or not to take. The government needs to put the choice of removing or revamping the CWB back in the hands of the farmers. Allow them to vote on this issue and decide what should or should not be done.
