The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is disappointed the Canadian Wheat Board has decided to fight a court ruling that upheld a government order directing the CWB to not spend money to promote its monopoly over prairie farmers.
“The Wheat Board should concentrate on selling our grain for the best possible price,” says Kevin Bender, President of the Wheat Growers. “It should not be playing politics and using farmers’ money to promote the monopoly.”
In a unanimous decision on June 23, the Federal Court of Appeal overturned a lower court ruling and said the federal government was well within its right to direct the CWB on “the full range of activity conducted by the Wheat Board.”
The Court also noted the government’s ability to direct the activities of the CWB was actually strengthened in the 1998 amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board Act.
“It’s disappointing the CWB is bent on wasting more of our money to fight this court ruling,” says Mike Bast, Chair of the Wheat Growers. “The Appeal Court ruling is clear in its findings and strongly dismisses the CWB arguments.”
The Wheat Growers support a voluntary CWB that is controlled by farmers and truly independent of government. Leaving the monopoly in place allows the CWB to bestow favours on those farmers who support its political views, unless held in check by the federal government.
“The Wheat Growers want to see the CWB become a voluntary marketing organization,” says Bender, “however until that happens, the federal government must have the ability to protect farmers against the abuse of power by the CWB.”
