Recently in Policy Category
A Conservative majority caught me a little by surprise, I'll admit. I believed Jack Layton would gain seats, but not the number his party managed to capture. While I don't consider myself a Dipper by a long shot, I will forever be thankful to Mr. Layton for his booting of the Bloc from parliament, but that's another matter.
No matter who you voted for, we now know that we have four years of a Conservative government ahead of us. In all the post-election coverage, I've found an interesting thread. On one hand, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced to the public that he was keen on earning the public's trust, and that sweeping changes were not in the wings. On the other, this story on CTV.ca about the CWB monopoly certainly qualifies as "sweeping changes" in my books.
Good or bad, right or wrong, changes are coming. I know how the board supporters feel. I know how happy those opposed to the monopoly are. But, and maybe I'm wrong, I believe there is a huge swath of farmers out there who land somewhere between these two extremes. Those are the farmers whose thoughts I'd like to hear. How do you think losing the monopoly will change things? Good, bad, indifferent? Do you think it should be put to a vote?
No matter who you voted for, we now know that we have four years of a Conservative government ahead of us. In all the post-election coverage, I've found an interesting thread. On one hand, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced to the public that he was keen on earning the public's trust, and that sweeping changes were not in the wings. On the other, this story on CTV.ca about the CWB monopoly certainly qualifies as "sweeping changes" in my books.
Good or bad, right or wrong, changes are coming. I know how the board supporters feel. I know how happy those opposed to the monopoly are. But, and maybe I'm wrong, I believe there is a huge swath of farmers out there who land somewhere between these two extremes. Those are the farmers whose thoughts I'd like to hear. How do you think losing the monopoly will change things? Good, bad, indifferent? Do you think it should be put to a vote?
Two interesting things happened this week. One, Grainews is now on Facebook! Yippee! You, dear readers, made it clear that commenting and asking questions on this blog was difficult. Seeing as a stated goal of this blog is to get and keep conversations going, that proved a big problem. Now, blogs will be posted here, but also linked from our Facebook page, where you can comment easily and for many others to see. That should get a conversation going!
Which brings us to the second part of today's blog title. I received an email on April 1, asking if I had heard about the Manitoba Canola Growers asking for opinions on moving canola to the Canadian Wheat Board (read more here). I, of course, laughed this off (did you see the date?), until this week when I see this is all over the news. I made a comment to a colleague that this likely started years ago when canola prices were in the tank and there was no processing to speak of. Lo and behold I read that conversations around this started in 2006. Which brings up an entirely different discussion — change takes forever, doesn't it? But that's for another day.
Regardless of what I think of this (canola has a functioning futures market and domestic processing, this whole ideas seems backwards to me), I want to know what farmers think. Do you want to see canola marketed through the CWB? Like us on Facebook and start the discussion!
Which brings us to the second part of today's blog title. I received an email on April 1, asking if I had heard about the Manitoba Canola Growers asking for opinions on moving canola to the Canadian Wheat Board (read more here). I, of course, laughed this off (did you see the date?), until this week when I see this is all over the news. I made a comment to a colleague that this likely started years ago when canola prices were in the tank and there was no processing to speak of. Lo and behold I read that conversations around this started in 2006. Which brings up an entirely different discussion — change takes forever, doesn't it? But that's for another day.
Regardless of what I think of this (canola has a functioning futures market and domestic processing, this whole ideas seems backwards to me), I want to know what farmers think. Do you want to see canola marketed through the CWB? Like us on Facebook and start the discussion!
I'm a big fan of voting. Heck, I'd vote twice if it weren't so frowned upon. I vote in every federal, provincial and municipal election; about the only thing I don't vote for is Canadian Idol or Battle of the Blades. So when it comes time for the CWB elections (of which I am ineligible to vote for, darn it), I get a little bothered that very few farmers exercise their democratic right.
My friend Shaun Haney of realagriculture(dot)com fame posted about the hum-drum feel of this year's CWB election. I can't say I disagree. I'm the first to admit that the upcoming election was barely mentioned in my own magazine. Why? Well, because the more things are being talked about the more likely you'll find it in Grainews. What happened? Besides a few announcements of the election happening, I heard nothing. Nada. Zilch.
Does a boring election mean you shouldn't vote? No. Quite the contrary. The CWB, for better or for worse, is responsible for pricing a good portion of farmers' production — you should absolutely make your views heard by voting for your area's director (odd numbered districts this year, in case you hadn't heard). If you're like me and, at times, don't like any of the choices in front of you, you should still vote, but pick up the phone first and call the candidates in your area. Find one that seems in-line with your way of thinking and cast your ballot. Please.
Farmers have until Friday to get their ballots postmarked and en route to the CWB.
My friend Shaun Haney of realagriculture(dot)com fame posted about the hum-drum feel of this year's CWB election. I can't say I disagree. I'm the first to admit that the upcoming election was barely mentioned in my own magazine. Why? Well, because the more things are being talked about the more likely you'll find it in Grainews. What happened? Besides a few announcements of the election happening, I heard nothing. Nada. Zilch.
Does a boring election mean you shouldn't vote? No. Quite the contrary. The CWB, for better or for worse, is responsible for pricing a good portion of farmers' production — you should absolutely make your views heard by voting for your area's director (odd numbered districts this year, in case you hadn't heard). If you're like me and, at times, don't like any of the choices in front of you, you should still vote, but pick up the phone first and call the candidates in your area. Find one that seems in-line with your way of thinking and cast your ballot. Please.
Farmers have until Friday to get their ballots postmarked and en route to the CWB.
Profile
Grainews editor Lyndsey Smith answers readers' questions, asks her own and, now and then, discusses what's new and interesting in western Canadian production agriculture.
