Feds' proposed regulations to CWB elections threaten principle of farmer empowerment
For more information, please contact:
Bob Friesen, CFA President: (613) 866-7611 (cell); bob@cfafca.ca
Brigid Rivoire, CFA Executive Director: (613) 715-3113 (cell); brigid@cfafca.ca
Janice Hall, CFA Director of Communications: (613) 236-3633 ext. 2322; janice@cfafca.ca
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is raising real concern over the federal government's proposal to remove third-party spending limits during the Canadian Wheat Board's (CWB) director elections.
'This is not a matter of whether you're for or against the CWB, it's a matter of farmer empowerment,' said Bob Friesen, CFA President. 'It is vital that the Government of Canada respect the democratic election process of CWB directors and prevent the possibility of well-funded outside interests from unfairly influencing the vote.'
The proposed regulations, published in the Canada Gazette on Sat. Aug. 2, would open the gates for third-party 'intervenors' to direct unlimited amounts of money in support of their preferred candidate or policy position. Currently, there is a cap of $10,000 on such third-party spending. The government has proposed to keep in place a rule stating that CWB election candidates themselves cannot spend more than $15,000.
'This is meant to be a farmer-based election for a farmer-run organization. CFA is concerned that the proposed regulations could potentially disrupt the balance of election deliberations and allow third parties who stand to benefit financially from the demise of the CWB to unduly influence the outcome,' said Laurent Pellerin, CFA Vice-President.
The CFA has observed that some farm groups opposed to the single-desk selling structure have questioned the government's proposal. Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, President of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is quoted in the Winnipeg Free Press (Aug 2) as being 'taken aback by the proposed election spending rule, adding this was not something her organization had sought and that she hoped the fall's election would be based on ideas and not money.'
The CFA echoes this sentiment and remains steadfast in its position that farmers and farmers alone should be in control of the future of the Canadian Wheat Board.
The proposed regulation is published in Canada Gazette Vol. 142, No. 31. It is posted online at
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2008/20080802/html/regle1-e.html.
