Ontario to Issue Their Own Wheat Export
Stratford, Ontario is the home of the annual Shakespeare Festival and
draws actors from all over the world to its world class performances.
But no performance could surpass the actions of the Ontario Wheat Board
this past week as the opted to by-pass the Canadian Wheat Board and begin
to issue their own wheat export permits to farmers who direct market to
customers in the United States. for Ontario farmers it was
"Mid-Summer Nights Dream" come true. Shakespeare must be
smiling.
In attendance at the annual general meeting of the Ontario Wheat Board
(OWB) was Prairie Centre Policy Institute director, Ken Dillen, thanks to
a generous donation from an Ontario farmer. Also attending this
historic event was Andrew McMechan, the Manitoba farmer who was jailed and
paraded in hand-cuffs, leg irons and chains to court appearances in
Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In one court appearance the crown
prosecutor pointed to Andy in the prisoners box and yelled to the judge
"look at him, your Honour, he even looks like a criminal."
The judge agreed.
The Ontario farmers wanted to meet and talk to Andy because they could
not believe that a farmer could be treated so brutally for an act that
they now take for granted as a right of living in a free and democratic
society.
It took a few years by a very determined group of farmers to change the
monopoly status the Ontario Wheat Board held over all grain grown in
Ontario. In many ways, it was similar to the current restrictive
practices in the west. But perseverance and determination finally
paid off.
Because the OWB monopoly became more and more unresponsive to both
producer and customer demand, many farmers turned to producing other
agricultural products like pulses, corn, soybean, grapes and even
forage. Wheat production was in decline. The milling industry
was not optimistic about the future of milling in Ontario. There
were very vocal calls for the end of the Ontario Wheat Board.
Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and a compromise was reached.
A process was set in motion to accommodate those who wished to maintain
the pooling option. For others, a forward contract option was
created, and finally for those who choose to market "off-board",
an accommodation was made there as well. In other words, the OWB has
ended its monopoly and has become a buyer and seller of Ontario
wheat. They even pay on farm storage at .07 cents per tonne per day.
The Ontario Wheat Board now enjoys wide popularity and is supported by
a vast majority of farmers. Its directors are retuned to office
regularly. Wheat production is increasing, new varieties are being
introduced, investment in research and development is increasing, and
value added milling and food production companies have announced major
investment and plant expansions for the immediate future.
Out here in the west, the Canadian Wheat Board elections are going to
be held soon. It will be interesting to see if any candidates for the
positions have the vision to follow Ontario's lead. It would boost
morale and agriculture in general to get some good news for a change.
Just maybe we could make Shakespeare smile too.
Ken Dillen
September 9, 2002 |
