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Wheat board director Jeff Neilsen resigns

The Canadian Wheat Board saga continued on Monday, with District 2 director Jeff Nielsen resigning from the board.

The Canadian Wheat Board saga continued on Monday, with District 2 director Jeff Nielsen resigning from the board.

The Olds-area farmer, who represents southwestern Alberta, including much of Central Alberta, said in a release that the CWB’s decision to proceed with a legal challenge of the federal government’s bill to strip the board of its monopoly powers over the marketing of Western Canadian wheat and barley shows “a total disrespect for producers.”

He said legal advice obtained by the board indicated that the challenge stands little chance of success.

Last Wednesday, Henry Vos — another single-desk opponent who represented District 1 in Northern Alberta — resigned his directorship. He cited the legal challenge and “ideological bullying” by single-desk supporters on the board as motivating factors.

Nielsen told the Advocate at the time that he was contemplating resigning himself. He added that the board was suspending him from its November meeting for criticizing the objectivity of a series of producer information meetings organized by the CWB during the summer.

Nielsen said last week he was upset that farmers had to bear the cost of those meetings, as well as the board’s legal challenge.

He said Monday that he had consulted with several producers in his district before stepping down. In a letter to the farmers he represented, Nielsen expressed frustration that other board members were resisting change.

Nielsen also wrote in a letter to CWB chairman Allen Oberg: “You personally have said you recognize the need for proactive change, and that view is reflected by producers in the CWB’s annual surveys. This, however, has not been reflected in your ongoing leadership or public actions or comments.

“The CWB has an opportunity to move forward and adapt with farmers to help them compete in the global marketplace. You and other directors committed to the status quo have instead chosen a path of self-destruction.”

Oberg, who is from Forestburg, is now the only farmer-elected director from Alberta. The seven others are from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. There are also four appointed directors and the CWB president.

The federal government tabled legislation two weeks ago to strip the CWB of its monopoly powers. Last Wednesday, Oberg announced that he and other directors would take the government to court for acting “illegally and unethically” in the matter.

A majority of Western Canadian farmers who took part in a recent CWB-organized vote were in favour of the Wheat Board retaining its monopoly powers. And the Canadian Wheat Board Act requires that a plebiscite be held before any grain can be removed from the board’s control.

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has maintained, however, that his government has the power to proceed under the act. He wants a new system in time for the 2012 crop year.

Producer groups have been lining up on both sides of the issue, with the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance, Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board and National Farmers Union among those criticizing the government’s actions. Supporting the proposed change are the Grain Growers of Canada, Western Barley Growers Association and Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, with the Wheat Growers announcing on Thursday that it will commence its own legal action against the Canadian Wheat Board and eight of its directors.

“We cannot stand idly by and watch the CWB directors continue to misuse our money,” said Wheat Growers president Kevin Bender, who farms near Bentley.

hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com