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Inland Terminals threaten Small Towns
Loehr, Philip J.
Publisher: Prairie Messenger, St. Peter's Press, Muenster, CanadaYear Published: 1975 Pages: 15pp Price: $.50 Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX20 The threat of American multinationals to Canadian farming system. Abstract: A small number of food chains have all of North America locked into one continental Marketing system, which they can control mainly because they have the resources of money and equipment to transport products around at will. However, as Loehr points out in this paper, a major hold out to complete integration of North American industry into a centralized system is the fact that the gathering system for grains in western Canada is largely in the hands of Canadians and under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Wheat Board. As well, the Crows-nest freight rates and the network of rail lines and country elevators enable the Canadian farmer to move his grain to export position much cheaper than if it were part of a continental gathering system. This paper describes the threat that the American Multinationals, Cargill & Continental, pose to this Canadian system, to small scale farming, and to rural life and points out the complicity of the Canadian government to their plans. Loehr maintains that to fight Cargill & Continental, the farmers must come out in favour of a thriving network of rural communities and must be willing to evaluate and adjust the present system of handling grain to make it more viable and efficient. He cites the research being done presently in this area by the Grains Group 2 and the Wheat Pool. Loehr concludes by emphasizing the importance of pressuring all levels of government to support an all-Canadian grain transportation system. "One must think about global problems. But the only way you can act is locally." Dr. Rene Dubois Subject Headings |