Canadian Wheat Board Vows to Improve Director Elections
After Court Ruling
(December 29, 2004 - WINNIPEG (CP)) The
Canadian Wheat Board says it will improve the way it conducts director
elections following a court ruling that criticized the board for leaving
some producers off voters lists.
The problem was caused by a computer glitch, wheat board spokeswoman
Louise Waldman said Friday.
"We certainly are aware that there were names omitted from the voters
list," Waldman said. "We have to ensure that mistake never
happens again."
Farmers in Western Canada elect 10 of 15 directors for the Canadian Wheat
Board. The other members are appointed by the federal government.
The results of the election for four of the 10 directors are to be
announced Wednesday.
Art Mainil, a farmer who opposes the board's monopoly on wheat and barley
exports, sought a court injunction earlier this month alleging election
irregularities.
A federal judge ruled Thursday against Mainil's bid to delay the
announcement of the results, but left the door open for a judicial review
of the board's election process.
Waldman said the wheat board will hold an internal review of how it runs
elections in 2005 to see if other improvements need to be made.
However, the results of that review will not be made public, she said.
"We have to look at everything we did and everything our election co-ordinator
did and come up with recommendations on how to improve the process for the
next election," she said.
Meyers Norris Penny LLP was hired by the wheat board to co-ordinate the
vote.
Spokesman Peter Eckersley said two problems occurred during the election -
about 200 producers were assigned to vote in a wrong district, and 792
producers were left off the original voters list.
Eckersley said while both problems were solved before the votes were
counted, he will recommend the electoral process be tightened up.
"We have to revisit the criteria to see if there is a more
bullet-proof way that individuals can be assigned to districts so we don't
have the kind of confusion that occurred this year," he said from
Brandon, Man.
"With the missing voters, I don't think it was a systemic problem. It
was a human error problem."
Tom Jackson, a candidate in the election who opposes the board's monopoly,
said he will be satisfied if the board makes meaningful changes to how it
runs elections.
But if that is not the case he would welcome a judicial review of the
December election.
"If they don't convince me that it was done fairly and impartially,
then we will be forced to go the further step and ask for a judicial
review" |
