Commentaries by Lynda Swanson
My name is Lynda Swanson and I
am a grain farmer in Elnora Alberta Canada. I have done extensive research
into domestic support issues over the last several years as well as doing
in-depth investigations into the workings of the Canadian Wheat Board. I
have written several articles on these subjects that I wish to share them
with any interested parties. Most of my information comes from the Public
Accounts of Canada, Statistics Canada, Canada’s Notifications to the WTO,
CWB Annual Reports and Access to Information material that I have
received. The remainder of the material is derived from talking to helpful
department heads in Agriculture Canada and various industry leaders.
Canada’s stand on domestic
support issues at the WTO is heavily influenced by the supply-managed
sectors of agriculture. Supply-management is situated mainly in the
provinces of Quebec and Ontario where Canada’s largest voting population
resides. Only 10% of the farms in Canada are involved in supply managed
agriculture so it is now time for the other 90% of Canada’s agricultural
sectors to come forward and mold our agricultural policy into a framework
that is agreeable to both national and international interests.
Liberalization of agriculture nationally and internationally can only be
accomplished by addressing the issues that stand in the way of its
progress. These issues are supply-management and the CWB monopoly.
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