This is a worthwhile read that clarifies some of the background on the farmers pardoned this week: “Myth: the CWB put farmers in jail for selling wheat.” If you read the headlines and coverage this week, the impression given was that the farmers were charged under the Wheat Board legislation.
Continue readingTag: canada wheat board
Impolitical: The pardoner in chief
You may have heard that Harper was doling out pardons today: Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that, as a result of the coming into force of Bill C-18, the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act, Western farmers now have the freedom to sell their wheat and barley on the
Continue readingImpolitical: Tuesday drive-by blogging
A collection of items noted in the past week or so. 1. Canadian Press had a good year end type piece on the 24th. It captured what was, to me, the quote of the year from Stephen Harper. CP used it as a metaphor and it does indeed work: No
Continue readingImpolitical: Wheat Board update
The latest on the Wheat Board issue: “The Canadian Wheat Board and its supporters said on Friday they may seek an injunction to stop the federal government’s move to end the board’s monopoly on sales of Western Canadian wheat and barley.” It’s like an economic action plan for lawyers, of
Continue readingImpolitical: High times in Canadian politics
This quote from a Liberal Senator goes to a key question with this government: Liberal Senator Robert Peterson said he thinks the closure motion was brought in because the Tories feared an extended debate over the court ruling. But he saw no practical way to derail the bill. “If they’re
Continue readingImpolitical: Judge says Ritz breached Wheat Board Act
Marking the moment here with a bit of the media coverage and some highlights from the judgment. “Judge says Ritz breached wheat board act.” “Government broke the law when dismantling Wheat Board: Federal Court.“ You can read the decision of the Federal Court judge here. The order states: The Minister
Continue readingImpolitical: Wheat Board rally
A show of support for the Wheat Board in Winnipeg today as farmers rallied. Go farmers! A comedic comment on the issue:A smart young farmer who supports the CWB:
Continue readingImpolitical: Ritz protests too much
“Tories slams Canadian Wheat Board legal challenge.” Methinks Ritz’s language is quite animated, not conveying the confidence of a majority government. Maybe they’re worried about the legal challenge. Or the public blow back that might be on its way. G…
Continue readingImpolitical: A Wheat Board sandwich week
It’s been a big week of announcements from the Harper government. Much rolled out, almost hard to keep up with. It’s worth paying attention to the smorgasbord to detect what it is that they likely feel they’re vulnerable on. We had the Supreme Court ju…
Continue readingImpolitical: Listening!
Harper, August 26th: “We remain the government because we maintain the confidence of the Canadian population. That involves listening to the population and involves listening to the opposition,” he said.Canada Wheat Board plebiscite results, September …
Continue readingImpolitical: Listening to the farmers on the Wheat Board
The results of the plebiscite are in: Tens of thousands of Western Canadian farmers have sent a clear message to Ottawa, demanding the CWB single-desk marketing system be retained.Results of the CWB’s plebiscite, released today, show a strong majority …
Continue readingImpolitical: Video: "CWB vote: Last chance to have your say "
From the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance, encouraging those eligible to vote: “All ballots must be returned no later than AUGUST 24.” Great mood captured in that video! Go farmers!
Continue readingImpolitical: Checking in on the Wheat Board plebiscite
A Wheat Board commissioned poll shows support for the single desk system in advance of the plebiscite:According to the CWB’s 2011 producer survey, 59 per cent of prairie farmers support the monopoly requiring prairie wheat and barley farmers to market …
Continue readingImpolitical: Ritz on the Wheat Board plebiscite
It’s quick, you’ll get it in the first ten seconds. More here, “Ritz takes swipe at CWB; says plebiscite irrelevant,” and in this piece which quotes Oberg, the Wheat Board Chair with details on the summer’s plebiscite. The result will be in before the …
Continue readingImpolitical: Canada Wheat Board fight begins
As the video above explains, the NDP government in Manitoba, facing an election in October this year, is rolling out taxpayer funded ads to oppose the federal Conservatives’ intended move to take away the Wheat Board’s monopoly: “Manitoba releases pr…
Continue reading