News Release
November 10, 2006
Executive Council - 806
SASKATCHEWAN AND MANITOBA CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE VOTE ON THE CANADIAN WHEAT BOARD
The Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba today jointly called on the federal government to hold a plebiscite on the Canadian Wheat Board's (CWB) single-desk marketing authority as soon as possible. Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert and Manitoba Premier Gary Doer say that if the federal government denies producers their democratic right, the two provinces have agreed to hold their own vote. "We believe that the loss of the single desk and the inevitable implementation of an open market system would result in a serious financial loss for Western Canadian grain producers – according to several studies, more than $500 million," Calvert said. "Experimentation in a voluntary, open market doesn't make sense, especially when the money is coming out of our producers' pockets." "The single-desk marketing system has worked to the benefit of Western Canadian farmers," Doer said. "Now, the federal government has forced a major agricultural crossroads onto western producers. We believe that the Wheat Board belongs to farmers and it should be up to farmers to decide its mandate and its future." The Premiers also expressed concern over the threat to the future of inland terminals, producer rail car facilities, short line railways and the Port of Churchill without the Board's presence, all of which would also result in losses to producers. Calvert and Doer have also stated their stance that the federal government cannot make unilateral changes to the Canadian Wheat Board. "We firmly believe that producers themselves should be given a voice in the future of the CWB, and that the federal government must respect their right to choose," Calvert said. "Current legislation, in the form of the Canadian Wheat Board Act, upholds that right." "Farmers have told the federal government that decisions on grain marketing are to be made by farmers," Doer said. "That is the democratic way, and the federal government must respect that." One of the largest wheat and barley marketers in the world, the CWB sells grain to more that 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, minus the cost of marketing, to Prairie producers.-30-
For More Information, Contact:
| Jay Branch Media Services Regina Phone: 306-787-6349 Email: jay.branch@gov.sk.ca Cell: 306-539-3994 | Jonathan Hildebrand Director of Communications Winnipeg Phone: 204-945-1494 Email: JHildebrand@leg.gov.mb.ca |