Agriculture Committee on May 13th, 2008

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

I would suggest that based on the comments I've heard from the other side of the table, by encompassing the rest of Canada it obviously would build a bigger pool and it would make the Wheat Board stronger, better, and more functional. I would hope that the members opposite--in the strength of their conviction to the western Canadian Wheat Board--would actually want to enlarge it to encompass all Canadian farmers if they feel so strongly about it.

I do want to follow up on my colleague's questions in regard to the polling. We do know that there's been polling done, and you've readily admitted it. I respect the fact that you want to review it with your board. I would ask, if you would, to please provide those results to this committee. Quite often committees are not provided the initial report, but once it's been aired through the proper channels, I would ask that you do that. I would also ask, in discussion on the contingency fund, that you would provide this committee with those details once you've vetted it through the channels that you have to go through.

[Ian White]

That's on two fronts. First, in terms of the survey results, that's something I'll take back and talk to the board of the Canadian Wheat Board about in terms of your request.

With regard to the contingency fund, that's something that will be subject to our annual report and our annual accounts. Through the year those things fluctuate. When I talk about the contingency fund or any of our accounts, I actually talk about our annual accounts, which will be ruled off at the end of July. After those accounts have been done, obviously they'll be published data.

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Thank you. I appreciate that. And having been in a business in my previous life, I can say that knowing where you're at financially on a month-to-month basis--and probably in today's world, on a day-to-day basis--is obviously vital for our producers when they're making their decisions too.

Do I have more time?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

You have 15 seconds.

[Merv Tweed, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

I'll pass then. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Thank you, Mr. Tweed.

Madame Thi Lac, s'il vous plaît.

[Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Thank you for coming, Mr. White.

In your presentation, you stated that “KVD is only in use in western Canada, nowhere else in the world”. I should point out that I am a member from Quebec. Our nation has some excellent features.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

I believe, Madame Thi Lac, we're going to be talking about KVD in the next hour. Right now we're talking about the operations of the Canadian Wheat Board. Mr. White will be at that committee in the next hour.

[Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

The Canadian Wheat Board operates exclusively in the west. There are also some things that are done exclusively in Quebec, and they are excellent.

I was taken aback to hear Mr. Tweed state that he was surprised to see members on this side defending activities that are taking place in the west. I often see that government meddling in sectors that come under provincial jurisdiction. I don't understand how he can be offended this morning by our questioning a board that is active in the west.

When you were appointed, was your real mandate to undermine the Canadian Wheat Board?

[Ian White]

No.

[Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

All right.

You stated in your testimony that if you took proper action, there would not be any problems. If the minister heads in one direction and the board of directors goes the opposite way, we are going to find ourselves in rough waters.

Are you accountable to the office of the minister or your board of directors?

[Ian White]

My contract is with the board of directors of the Canadian Wheat Board. In my terms, I'm accountable to them. I understand that the minister appoints me, and that could create a difficulty, as it has, I believe, in the past. What I'll be endeavouring to do is try to not have that occur, but I don't know the circumstances that may arise. I don't think it's worthwhile talking about hypothetical circumstances.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Mrs. Skelton, you have the floor.

[Carol Skelton, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

I want you to reassure western Canadian farmers that you are going to do the very best for them.

What is your vision for the Canadian Wheat Board right now? Maybe Mr. Tweed brought that point forward, that when we say it's the Canadian Wheat Board, it really isn't the Canadian Wheat Board, is it? There's a boundary there. It's western Canada.

[Ian White]

That's true.

[Carol Skelton, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Can you lay forward a vision of what you want to do? You want to make the best possible money for western Canadian farmers. The pool accounts were the big thing, and Mr. Tweed brought that forward. Do you think it would be better if we had huge pools that all Canadian farmers could draw from? All Canadian farmers could gain from having the large pools of money.

[Ian White]

It may be that farmers in other places think that they would like to join in what has been a fairly successful set of pooling arrangements over a long period of time. I'm not really very competent to answer that. I think those are more political questions than actual commercial questions.

What I can assure you of is what I will be attempting to do. My vision is to add value to farmers in western Canada, which is our current mandate. As I've said publicly, in doing that I also will be looking to see a successful Canadian Wheat Board.

[Carol Skelton, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Do you know if there have been applications from other provinces to join the board?

[Ian White]

I don't know that.

[Carol Skelton, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Could someone find that out for us?

[Ian White]

Certainly.

[Carol Skelton, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

We talked about friends of the Wheat Board sending out those questionnaires that were going on, and you said you didn't know if the board was supporting them. Would you look into that to see if the board is funding that?

[Ian White]

No, I don't think I said I didn't know if that was the case. I said that to my knowledge, the board was not supporting any organization.

[Carol Skelton, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that. They're not supporting any organizations, then. There is no usage of farmers' money to support organizations at all?

[Ian White]

No.

The only areas that the Canadian Wheat Board puts funds into are those--and we'll talk about it in the KVD area--where there is some future commercial benefit, such as variety, selection, and so forth.