Dear Editor
Just how delusional is our MP Gerry Ritz? He says that, "... our government stands firmly on the side of ... the overwhelming majority of farmers...(who) have spoken loud and clear in support of our government's actions..." (Regional Optimist Nov. 6). Those of us still interacting with planet Earth know that is a long, long way from true.
We know about two thirds of prairie farmers voted to keep the CWB single desk that Ritz killed. It is only logical that fraction has grown in size and conviction considering what followed its end.
Farmers used to get about 85 per cent of the port price for our grain. Post CWB we are lucky to get 50 per cent. The railways, grain companies, and especially the terminals are scooping up the rest.
The CWB used to co-ordinate grain shipping and was the only body ever to successfully sue the railways on our behalf. Now it sounds like Ritz is lifting the (weak) performance orders so the railways are free not to move grain this winter either. The last report I have says 34 ships are waiting at port.
Canadian wheat used to sell at a premium but is now among the cheapest in the world. Reuters says that other-side-of-the-world Canadian wheat is being offered in Iraq at about $15/tonne cheaper than right-next-door Russian wheat.
The loss of the performance of the CWB coupled with Conservative cutbacks at the Canadian Grain Commission means we are losing markets. Recent reports from a Winnipeg grain conference (Western Producer) say some buyers have switched away from Canadian wheat because of new problems with quality uniformity, cleaning, reliable delivery and weight shortages.
Ritz and crew have cost the western Canadian economy billions. Most farmers, on both the political right and the left, are angry about the loss of market power we used to have with the CWB. Even the anti-CWB crew are mad that Ritz did such a crappy job of creating his brave new world. No Gerry, we are not happy with you. Not the farmers who are earning tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars less per year than they would have without your interference, and not the businesses in which much of that income would have been spent.
Glenn Tait
Meota
