Mocking the vote

Chuck Strahl responds to the Manitoba/Saskatchewan plan for a plebiscite on the future of the Wheat Board by declaring that democracy is a waste of resources:

In Edmonton Wednesday, Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl said plans for provincial plebiscites on the wheat board's future would be a waste of money.

"If they've got that kind of money to throw around ... then they should use it on farm programming or use it on science research, innovation and development or something, rather than hold another plebiscite on an issue that's not in their jurisdiction."

Needless to say, that kind of stand against producer choice is bound to give rise to plenty of concern on the part of farmers who simply want to have a say in their own future. But in fairness, Strahl can't be blamed for inconsistency, as he also appears to be going out of his way to indicate his disinterest in the vote that the Cons have announced for barley producers:

In Calgary Tuesday, Strahl said farmers will have a say on the future of the wheat board's monopoly over barley marketing early next year.

He won't specify which farmers will vote or how the question will be worded and he added that the vote results wouldn't be legally binding.

Now, it's still not clear why the Cons are willing to fund a vote on barley which they'll feel free to ignore, but won't grant the same courtesy to wheat farmers. But it does appear certain that whichever jurisdiction holds a vote on the Wheat Board and however the results turn out, Strahl is already laying the groundwork to ignore the will of the majority. Which means once again that for farmers who want to continue enjoying the benefits of the Wheat Board, the vote which really counts is that in the next federal election.