Point of Privilege Resolution No. 2-06A

WHEREAS, the federal government has negotiated the end of financial support of the Canadian Wheat Board under:
1. Guaranteed initial prices;
2. Guaranteed sales;
3. Government backed loans; and

WHEREAS, these benefits accrue directly to grain producers;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM lobby the federal government to continue it's financial support of the government guarantees and single desk selling of the Canadian Wheat Board.

Response from Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food:

The government is committed to allowing western Canadian wheat and barley farmers to choose whether to market their products through the CWB. However, the Board's marketing mandate is only one of a number of issues facing the grain industry. The implementation of such a significant change in the marketing structure for these grains in the domestic market and in the export market will require careful consideration. The federal government will be consulting affected stakeholders before making any changes to the CWB's marketing mandate.

The Government's approach on this issue will be evolutionary, not revolutionary. Given that various policies and legislation that affect the grain industry are currently under review, the federal government sees a unique opportunity to develop a holistic approach to the grain policy, and changes to the CWB's marketing mandate will be considered in this context.