OTTAWA (29 November 2011) – “It was an evening I have waited for, for over 40 years,” said Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright. “Last night our Conservative Government voted in favour of restoring marketing freedom to farmers in Western Canada and I was very proud to participate.”

After the vote, Benoit joined a group of about 60 farmers who had travelled to Ottawa to witness the historic occasion, including five from Vegreville-Wainwright. “It was fantastic to have them here representing western barley and grain producers,” said Benoit. “It was a real celebration, not only of marketing freedom, but of the return of a basic democratic right to these hardworking Canadians.”

Benoit pointed out that, unfortunately 120 NDP, Liberal and independent members again voted against the interests of Western Canadian grain farmers.

“As we’ve made clear all along, our Government’s top priority is completing the economic recovery,” he stated.  “We received a strong mandate to give Western Canadian growers the freedom to market their own wheat and barley on the open market, and we taken a major step closer to having it realized.”

“We know that Canadian grain farmers have what it takes to succeed in an open market, as demonstrated by the staggering growth in recent years of the canola and pulses industries,” Benoit explained. “I am fully convinced that marketing freedom will unleash the true economic potential and entrepreneurial energy of the western Canadian grain sector.”

“I agree with the Minister of Agriculture,” concluded Benoit. “An open market will attract investment, encourage innovation, create value-added jobs, and build a stronger economy – which is good for all of us.”