How about in durum wheat and malting of barley? Have there not been dramatic increases in the value-adding?
And I believe my figures here are true: an 11% increase in milling capacity from 2001 to 2011, with four more mills in western Canada compared to 10 years ago. In malting capacity, the increase has tripled in two decades. In 1985, only half of the total malting capacity was located in western Canada. In 2007, that figure is 75%. Those are good increases in value-adding under the current Wheat Board regime.
To hear them say it, it stifles entrepreneurship and it stifles the capacity to add value.
The reason the Wheat Board doesn't give a price reduction or a price point to bulk buyers is that its mandate doesn't allow it to. It has to maximize the return to the farmer. How can that not be a good thing? How can it not be understood that it's the universality of the Wheat Board monopoly that is its greatest strength? That's its magic.
Imagine having a union where membership was voluntary. How much strength would that union have?