OTTAWA – Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright, is pleased to support the Government’s intention to appeal a Federal Court decision that overturned new Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) Regulations. “These regulations would have allowed Western Canadian farmers to have a choice in how they market their own barley,” explains Benoit.

“I know barley producers in my riding had been looking forward to making their own marketing decisions and were disappointed with the Federal Court decision earlier this summer that maintains the single desk of the Canadian Wheat Board,” states Benoit.

Over 29,000 Western barley farmers voted in the fair process and the majority, 62 per cent, told the government that they wanted to remove barley from the CWB monopoly.

“I think it’s quite clear that, since barley was brought into the Canadian Wheat Board’s mandate through regulation, it can be removed the same way,” affirms Benoit. “This appeal is the right thing to do for Western Canada farmers. They gave us a clear message about marketing choice. Canada’s New Government will continue to stand up for farmers and is committed to providing marketing choice to western grain farmers.”