The American humorist Will Rogers once said “where everyone thinks alike, no one thinks very much at all.” He could have been talking about federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz’s new working group to plan for the end of the Canadian Wheat Board.
The only people on this working group are industry-funded cheerleaders. Little wonder, when farmers, producer car loaders and others with in-depth knowledge of the West’s very successful grain export business have long recognized that without the wheat board’s single desk, Ritz’s idea of a strong and viable wheat board is just a fantasy.
Of course, with only four meetings scheduled until Parliament resumes, there really isn’t a lot of time to consider details; little things like how this will affect people – yes, real people – not just corporations.
Bill Gehl, Regina
Gehl is chairperson of the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance
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