News Articles

June 6 , 2008
Far and Wide Blog
Posted by Steve V

Farmers Support Canadian Wheat Board

A large survey of farmers was released by the Canadian Wheat Board today. I watched Question Period today, and to hear the Conservatives, this survey shows complete vindication for their initiatives. I looked at the survey PDF, and not surprising, the government selectively uses the data. What is entirely clear, farmers overwhelming support the Canadian Wheat Board, want any decision making left to their own elected Board, not the government, and believe the CWB brings better prices.

On who best represents farmers views:

Are the views of __________ very close, somewhat close, not very close or not close at all to your own?

Canadian Wheat Board 31%, 33%, 16%, 19%

Federal Government 11%, 38%, 23%, 26%

Agriculture Minister Ritz 12%, 32%, 19%, 27%

64% believe the CWB shares the same views, while only 49% say the same about the government, 44% for Minister Ritz.

Supporting the CWB:

Do you support or oppose the Canadian Wheat Board?

Strongly support 39%, Somewhat support 26%, Somewhat oppose 13%, Strongly oppose 19%

65%-32% support

On the future of the CWB, farmers clearly want their ELECTED representatives to decide, not the Conservatives:

Who should determine the future of the CWB – the farmer elected directors of the CWB or the federal government?

Directors strongly 64%
Directors somewhat 13%
Government somewhat 5%
Government strongly 12%

By a staggering 77%-17%, farmers want their ELECTED directors to decide their fate, not a bunch of ideologues. Many of us who have defended the CWB have always pointed to the simple fact, if farmers wanted change, they have their own democratic mechanism to bring that about. Clearly, farmers feel they can decide their own path, thank-you very much.

More on government intervention:

The Federal Court of Appeal confirmed the lower court decision that stopped the federal government from removing the single desk for barley without introducing legislation to do so. Now that the court has ruled, would you have preferred that the government:

Introduce leg strongly 27%
Introduce leg somewhat 8%
Drop the issue somewhat 13%
Drop the issue strongly 47%

60%-35% want the government to drop the issue. Hello Mr. Ritz- strange to have the Conservatives, the supposed anti-government interference party, forcing themselves on farmers, when they prefer they get out of the way.

To be fair, when farmers are asked about opening up the barley market, they endorse a dual system:

Marketing Barley?

Sole CWB 27%
Dual market 41%
Open market 26%

It is debatable whether or not farmers can truly have both, but when asked a clear question, unlike the Conservatives dishonest phrasing, farmers do choose the open market:

Marketing Barley?

Sole CWB 40%
Open Market 52%

Farmers want an open market, so we should see them elect Directors who share their perspective.

A different result for wheat:

Marketing Wheat?

Sole CWB 42%
Dual market 45%
Open market 12%

When asked the clear question:

Marketing Wheat?

Solely CWB 57%
Open Market 39%

When it comes to wheat, opinion is much different. Again, based on the other findings, farmers will ELECT their own representation, that best represents their preference.

The Conservative study allowed for manipulation of the numbers, by asking a direct question, the results are much clearer. Farmers want an open barley market, prefer a monopoly on wheat, but don't want the government telling them what to do.

One more thing which I found interesting. Given the battle between the Conservatives and the CWB the past two years, it is noteworthy that farmers have a better impression of the CWB now, than they did before this government took office:

When asked if their impression of the CWB has improved in the last two years (since the Conservatives took power), 42% say more favorable, 14% less, 43% unchanged

CONCLUSION:

Let the farmer decide their own fate, under the direction of the Canadian Wheat Board, a board they have confidence in. Stop the jihad Mr. Harper!

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