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Wheat board supporters want to take dispute to Supreme Court

By: Staff Writer

Thursday, Jul. 26, 2012 at 3:29 PM | Comments: 2

Allen Oberg (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)

The dispute over whether the Harper Conservatives broke the law last fall when they introduced legislation to rid the Canadian Wheat Board of its monopoly powers may go to the highest court in the land.

Eight former wheat board directors and the farm group Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board are seeking leave to appear before the Supreme Court of Canada to argue that Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz broke the law when he introduced a bill authorizing to curb the CWB’s powers without sufficiently consulting farmers.

Last Dec. 6, wheat board supporters rejoiced when Federal Court Justice Douglas Campbell ruled Ritz failed to comply with his statutory duty under the Canadian Wheat Board Act to hold a farm vote before introducing his Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act in the House of Commons. However, the Federal Court of Appeal overturned Campbell’s decision earlier this year.

"We believe that this case raises issues that are important to all Canadians and is worthy of careful consideration by the Supreme Court of Canada", said Allen Oberg, a farmer and former wheat board chairman.

Under the new legislation, farmers will no longer be required to sell wheat and barley used for human consumption or destined for export markets through the Canadian Wheat Board. The legislation takes effect Aug. 1.

Oberg and others believe the changes mean that Prairie farmers will now take home less money that they would have at a time that world grain prices are rising.

Opponents of the new federal legislation argue that Sec. 41 of the old Canadian Wheat Board Act prevented any government from ridding the CWB of its monopoly without a farm vote.

"This case is bigger than farm policy and has important implications for all Canadians because it raises fundamental questions about whether government is above the law," said Stewart Wells, chairman of the Friends group.

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Posted by:JOHN FEFCHAK

July 26, 2012 at 10:34 PM

If that is what it takes to TELL government that they are NOT above the LAW…..Then go for IT !
A small price for the sake of our system of democracy.

Posted by:Hal Redekop

July 26, 2012 at 5:46 PM

It's really hard to believe that a lot of Manitoba farmers are in favour of the CWB monopoly. Remember that it's only the prairie provinces that were subject to this monopoly. Growing up on a Manitoba grain farm in the 50's & 60's we of course we had no choice. The main objection to this monopoly that never gets publicized is the price monopoly the CWB has had all these years. Prairie farmers aren't getting much more for their grain than we got in the 50's & 60's. Farmer are afraid the won't be able to sell their grain on an open market, they are believing the rhetoric of the CWB. An open market will mean farmers will be able to sell their products at market price, and to whoever they choose, without fearing prosecution and even incarceration (which has happened in the past). We need to oppose the CWB in this case, and stand behind the right to sell our products to whoever we choose.

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