Farmers vote to maintain wheat board's monopoly

The Board amounts to a Union for farmers -- dismantling the Board in the face of this vote is suggestive of what may be the future of Federally regulated Unions?

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1052342--farmers-vote-to-maintain-wheat-board-s-monopoly

WINNIPEG—Prairie farmers have voted in favour of the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly over wheat and barley sales.

Just over 60 per cent of wheat growers and 51 per cent of barley growers voted in favour of maintaining the board's monopoly. Some 55 per cent of wheat growers and 47 per cent of barley growers voted in the plebiscite.

The board conducted a plebiscite after federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz refused to hold one as required under the Canadian Wheat Board Act.

Ritz has said he will change the law and eliminate the monopoly, although the board would still exist.

"In an open market, every farmer will have the ability to choose how to market their grain, whether it’s individually or through a voluntary pooling entity," he said in emailed comments Friday before he knew the plebiscite result.

"Let me repeat — regardless of the plebiscite results — at the end of the day, every farmer will have the right to choose how they market their grain."

Ritz has the support of provincial governments in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The Winnipeg-based wheat board has the support of the Manitoba government, which believes farmers have the legal right to decide the marketing agency's future.

Legislation creating the board dates back to 1935. The monopoly over wheat came into effect in 1943. Barley and oats were added a few years later.