Government Reviewing CWB Election Process

WINNIPEG - Jun 17/05 - SNS -- The way the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) elects directors will be the subject of a broad review initiated by Reg Alcock, the Minister Responsible for the marketing board.

In announcing creation of the panel, Alcock said, "Improving the election procedures and voting lists, will both ensure that producer's interests are recognized and will enhance the validation of the elected farmers to the Board."

CWB elections use a mail-in preferential ballot system. In the last election, less than 45% of eligible farmers have voted, with some complaining that the ballot was confusing. More significantly, about 800 CWB permit holders were left off the voters list, resulting in failed court challenges of the election results.

Alcock named three individuals to the CWB Election Review Panel: Cecilia Olver of Corning, Saskatchewan, a vice president with the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan; Greg Porozni of Vegreville, Alberta, a member of the Alberta Grain Commission and a director of the Alberta Canola Producers Commission; and David Rolfe of Elgin, Manitoba, President of the Keystone Agricultural Producers. Minister Alcock has also appointed Janice Baker, the former Chief Electoral Officer for Saskatchewan, as a special advisor to the panel.

The panel's broad terms of reference will include everything from voter eligibility to electoral boundaries to balloting. Over the course of the last four CWB elections, many farmers and farm organizations have requested improvements to the CWB electoral system.

This election review panel will consult producers, farm organizations and provincial governments, and has been mandated to report by October 2005. Proposed recommendations may therefore be implemented by the next CWB election, to be held in the fall of 2006.

There have been four elections held since the Government of Canada introduced amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board Act in 1998, giving producers the power to elect ten of the fifteen directors on the CWB's board and therefore putting the farmers in control of its grain marketing agency.

Commenting on the move, Wayne Drul, Chair of Agricore United, said, "We are concerned about how representative the current process is. This concern largely stems from the declining voter turnout.

"A broad scope for the review combined with the tight time frame for the panel's work will allow meaningful recommendations to be brought forward in time for the 2006 elections," says Drul.

"However, Agricore United calls upon the Minister and the CWB to address other areas of concern with the current CWB structure. A broad review of the CWB's mandate and its role within the industry is necessary," continues Drul. For example, Drul notes that Canada should be developing a strategic plan to address the changes coming as a result of a World Trade Organization agreement.

"The grain industry, including farmers and grain handlers, must have an arbitration process to resolve costly disputes," says Drul. "These are but two additional areas that should be given attention."

"We need to build an environment that fosters investment and innovation in Canada's grains, oilseed, and special crops industry. We are committed to enhancing the global competitiveness of western Canadian grain marketing," concluded Drul.