I have delayed writing this letter to see if there was a apology coming from Allen Oberg and the CWB board of directors. Instead of an apology the board is now spending our money to run ads telling us how brilliant they are in purchasing a couple of boats. I think they owe us an apology on several counts.
The directors call the purchase a sound business strategy. In answer to a question at a farmer forum the CFO admitted that the boats will become the property of the Government of Canada as the CWB is a Crown corporation. Is it sound business strategy to use farmers’ money to purchase boats which will not be owned by farmers?
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Some of the current directors including the chairman served on the boards of the Prairie Pools or UGG where their sound business decisions brought about the demise of those organizations. Sadly farmers do not have the option to withdraw from this deal and this organization as we did with the Pools.
Mr. Oberg states that the purchase will benefit all farmers. Alberta and most Saskatchewan farmers receive no benefit from the seaway and yet are forced to pay the cost of moving grain through the seaway. Chief operating office Ward Weisensel in a recent interview indicates three million tonnes out of 21 million move through the seaway. Without the CWB forcing Western farmers to pay seaway costs, does this purchase benefit all farmers?
The directors showed complete contempt for farmers when the board contemplated the purchase and later made the deals. There was plenty of time when they could have informed and consulted farmers. Their failure to do so is inexcusable. During the recent director elections some directors ran for re-election hiding this information. Shame on all of you.
I could write much more but will close asking the CWB Board of Directors to apologize, resign and run new elections with the purchase of boats as part of their platform.
Murray Woods Linden, Alta.
