national
farmers union
national
farmers union
SASKATOON, Sask.-"The NFU is made of farmers, controlled by farmers, and is working for farmers. Our issues are people's issues. We've earned a reputation of being a principled organization with realistic goals that asks the right questions, at the right times, to the right people in our defense of family farmers of all commodities in all parts of the country," said new NFU President Cory Ollikka.
Ollikka stated that farmers need "market power, not merely the market access which government negotiators tell us so vehemently we need and seem willing to sacrifice our sovereignty to get. We need market power through marketing structures of our own collective design: structures such as the Canadian Wheat Board and our supply-management agencies."
Referring to the upcoming WTO talks, Ollikka stressed that Canadian orderly marketing agencies which give farmers market power "are not available for bargaining. These agencies are tools which have been formed by farmers hard work and they are not the property of government or Canadian trade negotiators to play trade poker with." Ollikka advised: "The government should use growing international disenchantment with the WTO process to strengthen the Canadian position and protect farmers' marketing agencies."
Cory Ollikka, formerly Vice-President of the NFU, won the Presidency in an un-contested election. Ollikka farms near Wasketnau, Alberta.
Also elected was Shannon Storey of Saskatoon, Sask. as NFU Women's President. Storey takes over from Yvonne Sinkevich. Michelle Melnyk of Edmonton, Alberta was re-elected to a second term as Youth President.
The NFU Convention continues in Saskatoon until December 5.
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