Is this the beginning of the Anti-trust movement in Canada?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dave DeCook on December 4, 2011 at 12:07pm

 I do not know the full details of the US anti-trust laws, but I do beleive 100% that farmers like any other industry or business has the right to market their products to whom ever they wish. There is of course a reverse side to this card, will they strength and solidity that was once shared in great numbers be lost? That is the question that needs to be asked, but either way it should be left up to the farmers to decide.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on December 4, 2011 at 1:14pm

I think the reality is that Canada is a major exporter of most agricultural products we produce. The supply managed commodities are the exception. To ensure Canada has access to the major markets we need to appear to play fairly with the other players. I think for one of the few times in history Canada is ready to compete with the Us and Europeans. The USA does not have the $ to heavily subsidize their farmers. I think head to head we can compete with other countries on a lot of grains and livestock. It is the subsidies, tariffs and non tariff barriers that screw Canadian farmers. The CWB was just government bureaucratic holdover from the distant past where prairie farmers needed marketing help.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joann on December 9, 2011 at 9:44am

"The CWB was just government bureaucratic holdover from the distant past where prairie farmers needed marketing help"

I digress.  The CWB is not merely a vehicle to enable financial viability. It is so much more.

If one studies the characters that were part of the original design of the CWB we will see that some of those personalities were transplanted to Ontario and had a major influence in the design of Ontario's agriculture marketing system.  Mr. H.R Cook being one of them.

But we need to look at events in 1911 (for the latest modern events) and take special note of the major players.  The Sherman Act was the kindling for events in 1911 which laid the foundation for a Royal Commission in the 1920's.  One outcome was the appearance of permament agricultural rights and the LCBO in 1928.  Those 2 are connected.

The CWB is a public trust.  The word "trust" has many connotations and dimensions when it applies to the CWB and what the Conservatives are attempting is nothing short of a sneaky maneuver towards the dismantling of Canadian "trusts" in agriculture....... Anti-Trust movement. 

Wheat was given special status by the Sovereign.  The rights to roads, rivers, streams, ports, and most notably the railroads, is of prime importance when it comes to the domestic population........ of which places the farmers in a secondary position........ rights conferred and controlled by the CWB. One has to remember that wheat licenses are not the same in western Canada as compared to the old wheat licenses in Ontario.  The jurisdictional licenses are key.... key not only to marketing boards but to individual farmers in Ontario/Quebec.

If our representatives want to disable our domestic monopolies to enhance trade in North America, and slowly dissolve the Sovereign rights that is the glue for our marketing boards.... then there is nothing to protect the LCBO as those rights come from the same era of Royal Proclamations......... that have not been revoked to date.

Not only will Ontario have to deal with a one time $52 billion capital loss when the Ontario boards are dissolved... but I can see the LCBO as the next target for dismantlement.......afterall...... its all connected from the same source.

Roadrunner said:

I think the reality is that Canada is a major exporter of most agricultural products we produce. The supply managed commodities are the exception. To ensure Canada has access to the major markets we need to appear to play fairly with the other players. I think for one of the few times in history Canada is ready to compete with the Us and Europeans. The USA does not have the $ to heavily subsidize their farmers. I think head to head we can compete with other countries on a lot of grains and livestock. It is the subsidies, tariffs and non tariff barriers that screw Canadian farmers. The CWB was just government bureaucratic holdover from the distant past where prairie farmers needed marketing help.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joann on December 10, 2011 at 12:40pm

Mr. Ritz is selling "market freedom" and the concept of "liberating" farmers from an "archaic marketing regime".

While the terminology does attract attention, Mr. Ritz is neglecting to publicly address the other side of the coin.

The farmers have been, still are, and will continue to be bound to their obligations to supply their commodities to the Crown when the need arises.

Mr. Ritz is misleading farmers and the public alike, when he states that he is championing for market freedom as he has, not date, released farmers of their obligations to the public.  Where is marketing freedom when farmers are legally bound to Crown servility?  There can be no liberation or market freedom when Sovereign obligations are not discharged.

Agriculture is not like other sectors.  Agriculture in parts of Canada is singularly distinct and stands alone when it comes to trade.

Dave DeCook said:

 I do not know the full details of the US anti-trust laws, but I do beleive 100% that farmers like any other industry or business has the right to market their products to whom ever they wish. There is of course a reverse side to this card, will they strength and solidity that was once shared in great numbers be lost? That is the question that needs to be asked, but either way it should be left up to the farmers to decide.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion