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The Rural Voice, 2006-11, Page 58BRUCE Email bruce@ofa.on.ca websile. www.ofa.on.ca/bruce 446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551 County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER The RuralinBruce Voice is my by d to OFA Members in County by the BCFA Bruce Federation says hands off farmer -run marketing In September 2006 the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture (BCFA) sent a letter addressed to Hon. Chuck Strahl. M.P. Minister of Agriculture and Agri -Food. and Minister For The Canadian Wheat Board regarding Bill C-300, Act To Amend The Canadian Wheat Board Act which is slated to come before the House of Commons for Second Reading this Fall. We also sent a copy of our letter to ALL M.P.'S IN ONTARIO. To date we have received replies back from several Members of Parliament who are all supportive of our position. We feel that if this Bill is passed it will destroy one of the most important policy instruments Canadian farmers have to equalize market power in the face of a highly Support Canadian Federation of Agriculture's e-mail postcard campaign As you well know, Canadian agriculture is suffering its worst farm income crisis in recorded history. Safety -net programs such as CAIS are supposed to be the tools to help producers survive these tough times. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture and your provincial farm organization have been working with producers across the country to determine what to do about CAIS and how to make safety -net programs work better. To send an e-mail 'postcard to the Prime Minister, Agriculture and Agri -Food Minister and your local Member of Parliament (MP), click the following link to go the E -Mail Postcard Campaign on the CFA website: http://www.cfa- fca.ca/pages/home.php?lang=e We also have post cards available at our office in Hanover at 446 10th Street or phone 519-364-3050 or 1- 800-275-9551.0 54 THE RURAL VOICE concentrated grain sector. The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) is a farmer -controlled organization that markets wheat and barley grown by western Canadian producers. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the CWB is the largest single seller of wheat and barley in the world. holding more than 20 per cent of the international market. The CWB is a well-designed and sustainable policy mechanism that delivers price equity to Canadian grain growers — equity that amounts to over $800 million a year in benefits to Prairie communities. American grain interests have been gunning for the CWB for over 20 years. Canada has won every trade challenge. We should be touting the CWB model for the world to see. Instead Bill C-300 would wipe it off the table, and with it, the future of Canadian agriculture. Seemingly innocuous, Bill C-300 purports to simply offer growers "choice" in the marketing of their wheat. When introduced in the House, it will be couched in terms such as "grower choice" and "support for bio -fuels development". Make no mistake Bill C-300 will destroy the single desk selling authority of the CWB, opening the door to take-over of Canada's grain sector by powerful, transnational grain conglomerates. If WTO and NAFTA have sanctioned the CWB, why would Ottawa now be so ready to destroy it, placing Canada's grain sector in the hands of U.S. based transnationals? The CWB Act expressly forbids the Minister to change the Act without the express consent of growers. Minister Strahl says that doesn't matter. However, we feel it matters a great deal because if this can happen to the Canadian Wheat Board, we believe it can happen to supply management. Destroying the independence and sustainability of Canada's grain. dairy. poultry. and egg farmers will destroy the fabric of Canada's farm sector. and with it all hope of food security and food sovereignty. We feel this is bad for Canada and cannot be allowed to happen. Bill C- 300 must be defeated in the House this fall.0 Growing Your Opportunities BRUCE GREY FARM AND FOOD CONFERENCE Tuesday, November 28 Elmwood Community Complex Cost: S25 (includes Roast Beet dinner) A one -day conference to investigate emerging trends in agriculture and food and explore new marketing ideas and strategies for today's changing agricultural and food markets See ad on page 14 of this issue for details on speakers and to register. BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE DIRECTORS' MEETING Monday, November 13 at 8:00 p.m. Sprucedale Agromart Bruce County Administrative Building, 30 Park Street, Walkerton Members are welcome to attend Please Note: The November Board Meeting is being held earlier in the month due to the OFA Convention November 10 and 21.