After Gary Doer's pathetic attempt to skew the numbers by posing a loaded question on the Canadian Wheat Board plebiscite, the Feds now know not to make the same mistake (sub).

The Free Press has learned that Chuck Strahl's Agriculture Department has been preparing a ballot for the key vote that gives farmers three options -- instead of simply asking farmers whether they prefer selling barley on the open market. [...]

But Conrad Bellehumeur, Strahl's director of communications, did not deny there may be more than two questions, saying an "either-or" situation does not reflect the Tory vision for the world's largest barely and wheat marketer.

"I cannot confirm how many (voting) boxes there may be. There could be two, there could be more," Bellehumeur said.

"It (the ballot's wording) will reflect the government's vision to provide freedom of choice to producers."

If we're to use the Manitoba plebiscite as an indicator, this could spell trouble for proponents of the monopoly.

The Feds' question is more honest, and much more in line with the Torie's vision, than the live-or-die options given by the Doer government.

The Doer question forced farmers to choose between the status quo, and "I wish to remove the single desk marketing system from the CWB and sell all wheat through an open market system."

"That would not be the ballot we would use," he (Bellehumeur) said. "It is not an all-or-nothing option."

Strahl has said he will not be bound by the results of the barley plebiscite.

Mike Bast, chairman of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, which has been among the biggest backers of the Tory plans for the CWB, said a three-option ballot is exactly what his group recommended to Strahl.

"That is the most accurate way to gauge farmers," Bast said.

"I feel that is where the Manitoba plebiscite missed the mark, because it did not give farmers out there that middle ground."

And that "middle ground" just so happens to be exactly what the government's plans are.

Labels: Conservative Party, CWB, Fun With Polls, Gary Doer, Manitoba, NDP

Gary Doer continues to waste tax dollars to promote his tired, big-government ideology (h/t Small Dead Animals).

Manitoba's recent Canadian Wheat Board plebiscite, which was paid for by Manitoba taxpayers, was supposed to give Ottawa a feeling of how Prairie farmers feel about the CWB monopoly. Instead, the question asked was totally loaded, and gives absolutely no indication of how farmers in Manitoba actually feel about the monopoly.

Voters were asked to tick one of two boxes -- either "I wish to maintain the ability to market all wheat, with the continuing exception of feed wheat sold domestically, through the CWB single desk system," or "I wish to remove the single desk marketing system from the CWB and sell all wheat through an open market system." [emphasis mine]

The problem is, they didn't offer an option for voluntary participation in the CWB, which is what I suspect most farmers would support.

Of course, because the question posed was so poor, both sides are claiming victory.

Ken Ritter, the chair of the Canadian Wheat Board, said he was pleased but not surprised by the result. "It's a clear result and a clear win for the CWB," Mr. Ritter said. [...]

In Ottawa yesterday, Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl said he was encouraged by Manitoba's plebiscite, even though a majority voted against the government's position.

"Close to 40 per cent of people said they wanted freedom of choice on barley, and that's with, as far as I'm concerned, a cooked-up, slanted question and a huge propaganda campaign that went with it," Mr. Strahl said.

Since the government's position is one of a voluntary CWB, I'd say it wasn't even addressed.

Of course, this doesn't address the wider question that should really be asked: should a majority be able to remove the freedoms of a minority?

Labels: CWB, Gary Doer, Manitoba

Adrian Measner isn't done yet. His lackeys have got his back.

Labels: CWB, Dirty Liberals, Trough Feeders

Via Dust My Broom, we see that Canadian Wheat Board president Adrian Measner is being fired.

Why? Well, the guy has a slightly backwards idea of what his job description is:

Measner has recently spoken out in defence of the board's marketing monopoly and warned of the economic consequences for the board, the City of Winnipeg and province of Manitoba if the government allows competition.

For a guy who's supposed to be working for FARMERS, his priorities seem a little mixed up. Notice, the warning of "economic consequences" did not include farmers, but did include the CWB itself. Oh the horror! All those unemployed bureaucrats, having to find jobs where they have to be accountable.

Labels: CWB, Dirty Liberals, Trough Feeders