Harper Government Moving Forward on Marketing Freedom

Ottawa, Ontario, June 18, 2012 – The Harper Government is moving forward on its long-standing commitment to give Western Canadian wheat and barley farmers marketing freedom. Today, a panel of three judges ruled in the Harper Government’s favour and overturned the declaration issued by Federal Court Justice Douglas Campbell on December 7th, 2011.

"We are very pleased that the declaration has been overturned as we always expected it would be," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "Today’s decision reinforces our belief that we must focus on the future opportunities that marketing freedom affords Western farmers, instead of trying to turn back the clock."

The Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act will end the monopoly of the CWB as of August 1, 2012 and give Western Canadian farmers the ability to sell their wheat, durum and barley to the buyer of their choice, including a voluntary CWB.

"Marketing Freedom is good for Western grain farmers and good for all Canadians, " said Minister Ritz. “As we have always said marketing freedom will build a stronger economy by attracting investment, encouraging innovation and creating value-added jobs.”

The Harper Government's top priority remains the economy. Modernizing grain policy in Canada will allow the Western Canadian grain industry to fully contribute to Canada’s economic growth and long term prosperity.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch
Director of Communications
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

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