Ritz confident C-18 will win legal nod

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz declared the battle for “marketing freedom” all but won in front of a friendly crowd at the 42nd annual Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association convention. Noting that Bill C-18, the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act, received royal assent on Dec. 15, Ritz cited the “supremacy of Parliament” as meaning that

CWB final payments for 2010-11

The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) has issued final payments to farmers for the wheat, durum wheat and barley they delivered to the CWB pools during the 2010-11 crop year. These payments represent the balance of the money owing to farmers after their grain has been marketed through the CWB pools, and after operating costs have


CTA issues revenue cap report

Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) exceeded what it’s allowed to earn hauling western Canadian grain to port by $1.25 million last crop year (2010-11), while Canadian National (CN), was $913,447 under. The results didn’t surprise Ian McCreary, a former Canadian Wheat Board elected director and farmer at Bladworth, Sask. “Rail competition just isn’t there,” he said



Ritz Repeatedly Calls Oberg A Thief — Then Recants

Under threat of legal action, federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz hastily retracted widely circulated comments he made last week accusing CWB chair Allen Oberg of stealing farmers money. This word was only used figuratively and I retract it, Ritz said in a statement emailed to reporters Nov. 12. It remains our government s belief that

Agriculture Is A “Backwater” Enterprise

Now that food seems to be on the public-policy radar, the think-tanks of the nation are anxious to demonstrate their expertise on the subject. The Macdonald-Laurier Institute is the latest example with Canadian Agriculture and Food A Growing Hunger for Change, by Larry Martin and Kate Stiefelmeyer. The paper does not state it, but they


Letters – for Nov. 17, 2011

We welcome readers comments on issues that have been covered in the Manitoba Co-operator.In most cases we cannot accept open letters or copies of letters which have been sent to several publications. Letters are subject to editing for length or taste. We suggest a maximum of about 300 words. Please forward letters to ManitobaCo-operator, 1666DublinAve.,Winnipeg,



Ritz Thirsty For Barley Freedom Beer

When legislation Bill C-18 passes to kill the wheat board s monopoly, Gerry Ritz says he ll celebrate with a glass of barley freedom beer. It might even be made with malt from Rahr Malting in Alix, Alta., where the minister of agriculture visited Nov. 1 to celebrate the company s announcement to spend $6

Ritz Announces Supply Chain Logistics Forum

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has announc ed a new industry forum to exchange views and work to improve the logistical system for farmers, the handling industry and customers. The Crop Logistics Working Group was announced in an address to the Inland Terminal Association of Canada (ITAC) Nov. 7. The Crop Logistics Working Group will be