(OTTAWA) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is expressing its disappointment with the federal government’s decision to hand-pick groups that ‘support the advancement of marketing choice’ for participation in its consultations on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). This week Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Chuck Strahl announced he would attend a July 27 consultation session, chaired by Parliamentary Secretary David Anderson, which would only be open to groups that support the Conservative government’s position on dual marketing for wheat and barley.

“I understand the fact the position of the Conservative Party is to move to dual marketing. But as a government now with a responsibility to represent all Canadian farmers it is imperative all farmers have a voice in these decisions,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “And you cannot ‘chart a path towards a successful marketing choice alternative’ before farmers have even had a chance to make it clear they want that alternative.”

“If the government is convinced this is the direction farmers want then give farmers a chance to clearly say it through a plebescite. Then, if they have their mandate, they can hold consultations involving all stakeholder groups, not just the ones who support their position,” continued Friesen. “To hold the consultations first is putting the cart before the horse.”

CFA believes the issue of the Canadian Wheat Board is a question of farmer empowerment. CFA supports single desk selling for western wheat and barley as it gives Canadian farmers greater market power in a global marketplace dominated by powerful multinationals and massive foreign subsidies.

“We have to ask who will benefit from ending single desk selling,” said Friesen. “Will it be the majority of Canadian farmers, or will it be the multinational grain companies who already benefit from high subsidies in the U.S.?”

CFA is also questioning the timing of these consultations in light of the current WTO negotiations and what signal these consultations will send to other countries.  “Our concern is that we’re undermining our own position when we should be standing firm,” said Friesen.

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.