Canada: Western Barley Growers Association calls on CWB executives to resign

The Western Barley Growers Association is calling on the president and chairman of the Canadian Wheat Board to resign for allegedly violating a government order banning advocacy for its monopoly, The Canadian Press published October 18.

The association says the board wrote a proposed plebiscite question and background information included in a press release that was distributed earlier this week by board supporters.

President Jeff Nielsen says board chairman Ken Ritter and president Adrian Measner have broken their promise to abide by the conditions of the government order and not spend any money to promote the single desk for wheat and barley exports.

David Rolfe, president David Rolfe, president of Manitoba-based Keystone Agricultural Producers, denies anyone at the wheat board had a hand in writing the release, which was prepared by several farm groups who support the board’s monopoly.

He says the coalition used a widely distributed wheat board discussion paper prepared last month to help write the release.

A task force looking at ways to allow competition in the wheat and barley export markets is expected to report to Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl by the end of the month.

20 October, 2006