Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Producers have mixed feelings on the collapse of CWB monopoly

By Lisa Goudy

Farmer Vaughn Crone shares his thoughts about the good and the bad of the collapse of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly at the Farming for Profit conference at the Heritage Inn on Monday. Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

Farmer Vaughn Crone views the collapse of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) monopoly as a way for increased competition.

Read more

Additional comments

"I believe the CWB in its present form will be scrambling to put aside some of the proceeds from its sales program in order to make itself commercially viable enough so that at the end of the five years it is a saleable entity,” said Rick Swenson, a local farmer and former cabinet minister for the Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Party.

Farmer and past president Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel said she believes market freedom is good for producers and the work that needs to be done can be completed in a more positive environment.

"The good is that the fight is finally over and we can welcome the benefits of an open market. Yes there is still plenty of work to do. We need to gain faster access to varieties. We need to modernize the Canada Grain Act so that farmers can sell their grain on the basis of speck. We need to see improvement sin rail transportation and we need improved access to markets," said Jolly-Nagel.

"The CWB can operate effectively in a market choice environment with the right people and the right attitude," she added.