WINNIPEG — Directors of the Canadian Wheat Board are urging federal Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl not to fire their president, saying such a move would put the board at "significant risk'' at a crucial time in its history.

Following an emergency teleconference Friday, the board sent Strahl a resolution expressing its confidence in Adrian Measner and its desire to keep him in his present role.

Chairman Ken Ritter says ousting Measner for speaking out against the government's plans to end the board's monopoly on wheat and barley sales would send a negative message to the board's staff and customers.

"When these kind of events occur, which basically is a firing of the head of the organization, there is a sense of uncertainty created and that is never helpful when you're running a business,'' said Ritter.

Earlier this week, Strahl sent Measner a tersely worded fax telling him he is thinking about firing him and giving him the option of providing comments in writing before Dec. 14.

Measner has been openly critical of the government's plans to honour its election promise and allow western farmers to market their own grain. He says the government should hold a plebiscite before going any further.

A barley plebiscite is planned for early next year, but Strahl has said he has no immediate plans to hold a vote on wheat.

A spokesman for Strahl says the government needs to have confidence its appointees will actively support its plans.

At least one board member agrees.

James Chatenay, a 64-year-old farmer from just outside Red Deer, Alta., says he voted against the resolution.

Chatenay is one of two farmer-elected directors who favours changing the rules to let farmers sell their own grain. He spent 23 days in jail in 2002 for donating a bag of wheat to a U.S. 4-H club to protest the board's monopoly.

"I think the minister has every right to do what he's doing,'' said Chatenay.

He says fellow board members ignored his warnings months ago that the government was serious about giving farmers a marketing choice.

"As far as I'm concerned, this whole thing could have been avoided had Mr. Measner taken the minister much more seriously earlier on and not let it unfold to this degree of, shall we say, resentment on both sides.''   

Measner's possible ouster could change the dynamic of the current elections for five board seats.

Nine of the 15 current board members favour the status quo. If Measner is replaced by someone who favours ending the monopoly and two of the seats up for election are filled by like-minded members, most of the board would support allowing farmers to market their own grain.

Ballots for the five seats must be postmarked no later than Friday, with results to be announced Dec. 10.

Both Chatenay and Ritter say they're hopeful their side will prevail.

"This whole thing has to get resolved,'' said Chatenay. "It's very difficult to run an organization of this size with this devisiveness occurring on practically every decision.''

But Ritter counters that regardless of the election results, the Canadian Wheat Board Act would still require Strahl to hold a plebiscite before removing the monopoly or change the legislation, which could prove difficult in a minority Parliament.