It is quite funny to listen to CWB CEO Ian White comment that he sees farmers as the CWB’s natural shareholders. In most companies shareholders have a right to vote on major direction changes, sell outs, or takeovers. No vote was given to the “natural shareholders” when Minister Gerry Ritz confiscated farmers’ assets though Bill C-18. If the CEO really felt this way why has he never stated that farmers should have a vote on the direction of the CWB?

Where was he when the CWB had their farmer meetings this past summer, when the changes to the CWB were being discussed?

The CEO states that Cargill has not even raised the idea of acquiring a privatized wheat board. My question is why would they even talk to White about this? He is not running the CWB; Minister Ritz is.

Presently there are five people appointed to the CWB board of directors, by Minister Ritz. This arrangement is a mockery of good governance and only portrays a puppet attitude of doing what the minster directs.

This is a far cry from when a 10-member, farmer elected board gave direction to the CEO. That was a democratic indication of what farmers wanted. White is more of a communications consultant for the minister, whose only remaining substantive task is to shut the lights out as he leaves the building and the CWB fails. His $800,000 per year job is probably short term at best.

Donn Dutchak

Rama, Sask.