Canada: New Canada Wheat Board CEO wants to stay out of the debate on board’s monopoly

The new chief executive of the Canadian Wheat Board said he wants to stay out of the debate about whether the board keeps the wheat and barley sales monopoly that makes it one of the world's largest grain sellers, Reuters reported April 8.

"I don't have any ideological deregulation bent. But on the other hand, you obviously have to meet the circumstances that you're dealt," Ian White said in an interview.

"I'm one to look at the circumstances and look at the value that's there and make sure that we do the right thing," said White, the former head of Australia's Queensland Sugar Ltd, who took the helm of the CWB last week.

The CWB earned C$4.95 billion ($4.9 billion) for Western Canadian farmers last year, mainly from wheat exports.

White takes control of the CWB at a time when farmers, the federal government and domestic buyers are at odds over the central role the 72-year-old agency plays in Canada's grain industry.

The Conservative government has said it wants to end the CWB's government-granted monopoly on milling, malting and export markets, starting with barley in August. It has the support of some farm groups and the domestic grain industry.

But farmers who believe the CWB's "single desk" gives them marketing power control a slim majority on the CWB's board of directors, and have fought Ottawa's plans.

"I know that the history in the recent past has been a bit rocky," said White, 58, who was appointed by government but answers to the board of directors.

"I expect that in the coming period of time I'll be talking with government about our relationship, and hoping that we can work through the issues that we currently have," White said.

White said the monopoly appears to add value for farmers, and that the agency would have a difficult time doing that without its single desk.

It's difficult for the CWB to forward-sell barley for upcoming marketing year, which begins Aug. 1, because of the uncertainty over its mandate, he said.

But White stressed he is still learning about the organization, and wants to spend time talking to farmers and domestic grain handlers and buyers.

"It's not in my nature to go and change a whole lot of things before I understand the landscape," he said.

09 April, 2008