Liberals vow to give farmers full control of Wheat Board
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 | 5:16 PM ET
CBC News
Conservative leader Stephen Harper has promised to give farmers the choice to participate in the Wheat Board, a move critics say would kill the institution. Since 1943, Canadian wheat farmers have been compelled by law to sell their crops only to the board.
Currently, farmers elect 10 of the Wheat Board's 15 directors. Four directors are appointed by the federal government "for the business and financial expertise they bring to the table," according to the CWB's website. The remaining director, the president and CEO, is appointed based on a recommendation from the board of directors.
Alcock also said the Liberals would ensure a one-time payment of $755 million to grain and oilseeds farmers, announced last November, would not be treated as income for the purpose of CAIS calculations.
The Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program (CAIS) is designed to provide funding for farmers in extreme circumstances.
Alcock said it was only after talking to the Liberals' Brandon-Souris candidate that the party realized the one-time payment would have far-reaching effects on farmers.
"After some extensive negotiation, I'm announcing today that we will treat that payment as a one-time payment to farmers and ... it will be excluded from the CAIS calculations, which means 100 per cent of the $755 million will go directly to producers and none of it will be clawed back," he said.
Alcock also reiterated a previous announcement about the creation of a new Centre of Excellence for Cereals Research at the Smart Park in Winnipeg.
