Canada: MNP to administer Prairie-wide plebiscite on CWB future

The CWB announced that MNP, a chartered accounting and business advisory firm, has been contracted to administer a Prairie-wide plebiscite on the future of the organization, Steinbach reported on July, 7.

The CWB CEO, Allen Oberg noted that MNP LLP is the company that oversees CWB director elections, and has the experience and resources required to ensure proper administration of the process. “I encourage all farmers to vote and make their voices heard on the future of the CWB,” Oberg said.

MNP has created a Web site, www.cwbvote.ca and phone line 1-877-780-VOTE to provide detailed information about the plebiscite to farmers.

“Ballots will be mailed to more than 68,000 wheat and barley farmers next week,” said plebiscite coordinator Ian Craven of MNP. “There are two plebiscite questions, one on barley and one on wheat.”

Farmers who have grown wheat in the past five crop years are eligible to vote on the future of the single desk for wheat while farmers who have grown barley in the past five crop years are eligible to vote on the future of the single desk for barley. Those who have grown both in the past five crop years are eligible to vote on the future of each crop.

Producers with an active permit book in either the 2009-10 or 2010-11 crop years or who have delivered wheat or barley in the past five crop years (2006-07 to 2010-11) will automatically receive a ballot in the mail later this month.

Other producers who have grown wheat or barley in the past five years can apply for a ballot now. To apply, download an application to vote from www.cwbvote.ca, or call 1-877-780-VOTE (8683).

Voting packages should arrive in farmers’ mailboxes by July 22. Farmers who expect to be mailed a ballot and have not received one by that date should call 1-877-780-VOTE (8683) or visit www.cwbvote.ca. Farmers have until Aug. 8 to establish their eligibility to vote. Completed ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 24, 2011.

08 July, 2011