Bill Nicholson (Canadian administrator)
Encyclopedia
Bill Nicholson is a Canadian
farmer and administrator, and is one of ten elected directors on the Canadian Wheat Board
. Nicholson supports the CWB's single-desk marketing approach as the best option for farmers, and has opposed efforts to introduce open market competition to wheat
and barley
sales.
Nicholson operates a farming business in Shoal Lake, Manitoba
. He was first elected to the Canadian Wheat Board's Advisory Committee in 1994, defeating incumbent candidate Larry Maguire
in the western Manitoba region. This election was fought along clear ideological lines, with Maguire opposing the CWB's monopoly status and Nicholson supporting it. Nicholson, who was 38 years old at the time, was a delegate with the Manitoba Pool Elevators and a member of the National Farmers Union.
Nicholson criticized the group Farmers For Justice in 1995, after some of its members tried to market their own wheat in the United States in contravention of Canadian law. He argued that these farmers were conducting private transactions "at the expense of all other farmers", and said that costs would be higher and returns lower if the Wheat Board were forced out of existence.
The Wheat Board was restructured in 1998, and Nicholson was elected as a director for the western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan region. He defended the Wheat Board's monopoly status in a 2000 interview with the Winnipeg Free Press
, arguing that single-desk marketing allowed farmers to look after their interests and avoid exploitation from grain merchants and railways. He was re-elected in 2002, defeating former Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba cabinet minister Jim Downey after two rounds of voting. Downey had opposed the single-desk approach.
Nicholson has recently criticized Conservative
Agriculture Minister
Chuck Strahl
's efforts to reduce the Wheat Board's monopoly status. He was re-elected to a third term as director in 2006.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
farmer and administrator, and is one of ten elected directors on the Canadian Wheat Board
Canadian Wheat Board
The Canadian Wheat Board was established by the Parliament of Canada on 5 July 1935 as a mandatory producer marketing system for wheat and barley in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and a small part of British Columbia...
. Nicholson supports the CWB's single-desk marketing approach as the best option for farmers, and has opposed efforts to introduce open market competition to wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
sales.
Nicholson operates a farming business in Shoal Lake, Manitoba
Shoal Lake, Manitoba
-Shoal Lake, Ontario:At the eastern border of the province with Ontario, a portion of Shoal Lake and the surrounding watershed lies within Manitoba.-Shoal Lake, Manitoba:...
. He was first elected to the Canadian Wheat Board's Advisory Committee in 1994, defeating incumbent candidate Larry Maguire
Larry Maguire
Larry Maguire is a politician and activist farmer in Manitoba, Canada. He is currently the deputy leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in the Manitoba legislature.-Farming activist:...
in the western Manitoba region. This election was fought along clear ideological lines, with Maguire opposing the CWB's monopoly status and Nicholson supporting it. Nicholson, who was 38 years old at the time, was a delegate with the Manitoba Pool Elevators and a member of the National Farmers Union.
Nicholson criticized the group Farmers For Justice in 1995, after some of its members tried to market their own wheat in the United States in contravention of Canadian law. He argued that these farmers were conducting private transactions "at the expense of all other farmers", and said that costs would be higher and returns lower if the Wheat Board were forced out of existence.
The Wheat Board was restructured in 1998, and Nicholson was elected as a director for the western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan region. He defended the Wheat Board's monopoly status in a 2000 interview with the Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
, arguing that single-desk marketing allowed farmers to look after their interests and avoid exploitation from grain merchants and railways. He was re-elected in 2002, defeating former Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba cabinet minister Jim Downey after two rounds of voting. Downey had opposed the single-desk approach.
Nicholson has recently criticized Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
Agriculture Minister
Minister of Agriculture (Canada)
The Minister of Agriculture is a Minister of the Crown in the Cabinet of Canada, who is responsible for overseeing several organizations including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Dairy Commission, Farm Credit Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, National Farm Products Council and...
Chuck Strahl
Chuck Strahl
Charles Strahl, PC, MP was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. He was a Member of Parliament in the governing Conservative Party of Canada.-Before politics:...
's efforts to reduce the Wheat Board's monopoly status. He was re-elected to a third term as director in 2006.