Show ME the Money, Gary

The NDP released their results for the plebiscite on the Canadian Wheat Board today. Is anyone surprised to find that 70% of farmers voted to keep the single desk for wheat and that 62% decided to keep the single desk for barley? I expect our BBA friends to be posting shortly, gloating with all manners of “I told you so!” being volleyed about. Here is my response to the blog entry they haven’t written but are no doubt typing right now.

The most important number to look at in this analysis is the participation rate. Everyone knew going in that this was a symbolic vote meant to embarrass Harper & McFadyen on the cusp of a provincial vote, I mean, garner the opinion of farmers. Of all the farmers that could have voted on this matter, only 65% elected to do so.

If I were to hazard a guess as to who would be most likely to fully participate in the poll, I would assume it would be those farmers in support of the single desk. After all, the ones in favour of marketing choice are getting what they want so what is their incentive to participate in an essentially meaningless survey? That means 70% of 65% of farmers support the Wheat Board. This in turn represents only 45.5% of farmers overall, i.e. a minority.

We already knew that there was roughly 46% support for a status quo CWB going into this plebiscite. It is heartening to find that the NDP saw fit to waste $80,000.00 (let’s add this to the running tab on Spirited Energy and Manitoba Means Business) on the obvious conclusion. Why didn’t they just give the money to me? I gave the same numbers here a little while back. Next time, just give me the money and read my blog – I promise to spend the money in-province. Well, most of it anyways – Mrs. P&UW has been wanting a Vegas vacation lately…