PUBLICATION: National Post

DATE: 2002.09.10

EDITION: National

SECTION: Editorials

PAGE: A19

SOURCE: National Post

CORPORATION: Canadian Wheat Board

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Dirty pool

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The Canadian Wheat Board announced last week that it will leave the world wheat market and simply meet existing customers' needs with the grain it has on hand. The drought devastating the Prairies will likely make this year's harvest the smallest in 30 years -- hence the Board's decision.

The Board is the only legal marketing agent for Western Canada's wheat. It is extraordinary to consider the fact that farmers risk criminal charges if they sell their produce independently. The rationale for these strictures is, the Board says, that by pooling sales, it gets a better price than would be possible if farmers went to market alone. The Board adds that tinkering with the system would merely enrich transnational corporate giants.

Whatever the truth or otherwise of the Board's claims to get good prices, there is no justification whatever for allowing the perpetuation of this standing violation of farmers' property rights. Voluntary pooling is one thing, but compulsion quite another.

Fortunately, there are signs that the semi-Soviet status quo may soon change. In June, the House of Commons' standing committee on agriculture and agri-foods asked the Board to consider allowing free market sales of wheat on a trial basis. We hope that this request amounts to an ultimatum. If the Board does not reform its practices, Parliament should amend or scrap the Canada Wheat Board Act. It's time to set Western farmers free.