To the Editor:
Farmers who were expecting something substantial in their Christmas stocking were sorely disappointed at the end of 2011. Not only was there nothing left in their stocking, but what they had was stolen by Harper and his henchmen Ritz and Anderson and given to Viterra, ADM, Louis Dreyfus, Cargill & Parrish & Heimbecker.
The lies these three spread to accomplish this are unbelievable. Eg. Western farmers now have the same opportunity as other farmers (referring to the former Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board which was started by farmers in 1958).
What they haven't told farmers is:
Ontario wheat farmers...
Ended their single desk through a farmer-led DEMOCRATIC process
Produce wheat that is used for pastries, cookies and cakes
Produce less that one-tenth the volume of wheat that prairie farmers produce
Sell about 90 per cent of their product within Canada and northern USA
Have low transportation distances and costs
Now pay grain companies more to handle their crops
Prairie wheat farmers...
Voted in favour of keeping the CWB, and face having it taken away against their will - DICTATORSHIP
Produce hard red spring wheat used for bread and durum used for pasta
Produce 80 per cent of Canada's wheat
Must pay freight costs to transport grain long distances to inland terminals and to port
Rely on the CWB to ensure fair market access for all, including users of producer cars.
Ritz and his supporters such as Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association (WCWGA) Barley Growers etc. continue to promote Marketing Freedom - 'the right to sell to whomever, wherever & whenever I want'. Yet a supposedly intelligent WCWGA past president signed a contract (through her Broker?? At what cost?) to deliver 1000 Tonnes of #1 CWAD 13 per cent to the delivery location (Assiniboia Grain) or ANY alternative location as may be notified by the company (so much for wherever ) . This must be delivered between Oct. 1, 2012 and Oct. 31 2012 (so much for whenever) at $8.35 per bushel.
What about the 70+ countries that the CWB can sell to at handling cost of about nine cents per bushel? Why and from whom, is Viterra expecting to make eight-figure gains from CWB deregulation?
Another lie is about the farmers 'jailed for selling their own wheat into the U.S." These farmers went to jail because they contravened the Customs Act. In fact one of them stole his tractor unit from the compound where it was impounded!
The stupid thing is that those wanting 'marketing freedom' can sell to whoever they want. They just can't sell for a price lower than what the CWB is getting.
In truth, Harper, Ritz & Anderson with all their lies, illegal acts and breaking of Canada's laws should be among the first to be charged under their own "Tough on Crime Bill" (Bill C10)!
Joyce Neufeld, Waldeck, SK.
