(OTTAWA) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is supporting a new piece of private members’ legislation introduced last week by Liberal MP Raymond Simard which puts more democratic control over the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) into the hands of farmers.
 
Bill C-498 amends the Canadian Wheat Board Act to require greater consultation between the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the farmer-elected Board of Directors of the CWB. The bill amends how the non-elected positions on the CWB Board are appointed, putting two of the appointments in the hands of the elected Board members. Finally the bill requires that any change to the CWB’s marketing status be put to a plebiscite with a clear question.

“The main theme of this bill is to ensure ongoing consultation between the government and the CWB Directors that western farmers elected to represent them. The rest of the bill simply puts more of the power over the CWB into farmers’ hands.” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “How can anyone argue with either of those?”

CFA is calling on all MPs in the House of Commons, whether they agree with or oppose single desk selling, to support this piece of legislation.

“Let’s be clear: this is not about preserving single desk selling or eliminating it,” said Friesen. “The only issue here is ensuring that, one way or the other, at the end of the day the decision rests securely in the hands of farmers.”

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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.