Farmer’s fire back at CWB with their own lawsuit

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This article was published 11/11/2011 (5391 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association thinks farmers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for the Canadian Wheat Board’s campaign to stop the federal government from ending its monopoly.

The CWB’s board of directors launched a lawsuit against the federal government last month, saying the government broke the law when it introduced Bill C-18 to eliminate its single desk monopoly.

They say the federal government should have first conducted a plebiscite on the issue as required by Section 47.1 of the Canadian Wheat Board Act.

The WCWGA subsequently launched its own lawsuit against the CWB, stating the board has no right to use farmers’ money to launch a political campaign to keep the current system.

“We felt that when the CWB decided to sue the federal government it was the tipping point for us,” said Mike Bast, a La Salle area farmer and a WCWGA director.

“We have been watching this issue closely and we feel that the CWB shouldn’t be spending this money on an ideological position.”

Bast, who admitted that he does not support the CWB and would like to market his grain himself, said that the funds being diverted to the CWB’s lawsuit should instead be used to market grain.

CWB chair Allan Oberg countered that the federal government has broken the law and it is the board’s responsibility to hold it accountable.

“We are entirely justified in spending this money on the legal action we are taking,” Oberg said.

“Our organization has an obligation to find out if the governments actions are legal or not and that is what this case is about.”

Oberg said the CWB’s lawsuit will cost approximately $100,000, which is about one quarter of a cent per tonne of grain to farmers. He said it is a small price to pay for what is at stake.

“The single desk provides $500 million dollars in benefits back to farmers every year,” he said. “Compare that to the $100,000 that this legal action will cost, the price is miniscule.”

Oberg acknowledged that people who would like to see the wheat board’s monopoly eliminated will oppose the suit, but added it is the board’s responsibility to pursue the matter.

“A democracy isn’t just about getting what you want it is about following the proper processes and obeying the law,” he said.

“When there is a question of whether the government broke the law, those questions need to be tested by the courts.”

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