Dear Editor
It's great to see Premier Wall standing up for Saskatchewan's interests by expressing concern over the Potash Corp takeover bid by BHP Billiton Limited. He's especially worried about the future of Canpotex, the company jointly owned by Potash Corp, Agrium and Mosaic that holds an effective monopoly over export sales of potash. He wants to make sure that, if there is a deal, Saskatchewan's place in the potash industry is not weakened unnecessarily.
It's too bad this Saskatchewan-first attitude doesn't seem to extend to the grain business. Wheat and barley producers - like the big potash companies - work together on the international stage to get the best deal for their product. They do so through the Canadian Wheat Board. The five farmer-elected wheat board directors from Saskatchewan all favour maintaining the single-desk approach to marketing where wheat and barley for human consumption and export have to go through the board.
So why do Premier Wall and his ministers go out of their way to say they want to see the wheat board's powers slashed? If sellers' monopolies work on the mining side, why can't grain producers enjoy their benefits too? Even if farmers are pretty used to double-talk from politicians, it would be nice to see some consistency on this issue.
Leo Howse
Porcupine Plain
