Government Introduces Wheat Board Legislation

October 19, 2011

The Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act

OTTAWA – Western Canadian wheat and barley farmers will have the freedom to market their grain as they choose and the true economic potential of the prairie grain sector will be unleashed by The Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act tabled yesterday by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and seconded by Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod and Minister of State (Finance). An open grain market will attract investment, encourage innovation, create value-added jobs, and build a stronger economy for all Canadians.

“The Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act will give Western Canadian grain farmers the right to choose how they sell their wheat and barley. Our Government is delivering on our long-standing promise to give Western Canadian grain farmers marketing freedom, just as they have when selling their canola or pulses,” announced Minister Ritz.

“This legislation will allow Western farmers the same marketing choice available to other regions in the country.”  said Menzies.  “As a grain farmer for 35 years

and the MP for Macleod, I wholeheartedly support this legislation.”

The Canadian Wheat Board monopoly was imposed on Western Canadian farmers by Parliament in 1943 when Canada was committed to supplying inexpensive wheat to Britain during World War II. The legislation tabled today will remove the monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board and give marketing choice to all farmers.

The legislation will allow an interim Canadian Wheat Board to act as a voluntary marketing entity, supported by the federal Government while it transitions to full private ownership. The legislation will also immediately allow farmers and companies to forward contract for the delivery of grain after August 1, 2012.

Working with Western Canadian grain farmers, their organizations and provincial partners, the Government is committed to an orderly transition to market freedom which includes a viable, voluntary pooling entity, as part of an open and competitive Canadian grain market. Additional information can be found at www.arg.gc.ca/freedom.