HOBACK ENDORSES BILL TO GIVE WESTERN CANADIAN WHEAT AND BARLEY PRODUCERS MARKETING CHOICE
OTTAWA, February 10, 2011 – Today, Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament for the federal constituency of Prince Albert formally endorsed Ontario MP Bruce Stanton’s Private Members Bill C-619 which would give Western Canadian wheat and barley producers marketing choice.
Currently, the CWB operates a monopoly over the marketing of barley and wheat produced in Western Canada – a monopoly which deprives western farmers of the choice to market their product as they choose. Bill C-619, entitled, An Act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act (notice of opting out and licence for activities), would permit western farmers to “opt out” of participating in CWB activities for a minimum of two years.
MP Stanton’s Bill would permit Western producers to opt out of the CWB by giving notice within a specific three month period (January 1 – April 1) each year. This “opt out” provision would allow farmers a clear choice, while retaining predictability and stability for farmers who choose to remain in the CWB pool. The Bill strikes a balance, by retaining all the mechanisms of the statutory marketing authority (the CWB) and offering the alternative of marketing outside of the CWB.
“I commend my colleague (Bruce Stanton) on the introduction of this Bill on behalf of all Canadian wheat and barley producers,” said Mr. Hoback. “Being from Ontario, Bruce has seen how dual marketing has benefitted wheat producers in his province.”
“I wholeheartedly believe that Western Canadian farmers should have the same rights in marketing their product as farmers outside of Western Canada do,” added Mr. Hoback.
“As a former farmer, I am well aware that not having the same rights as my fellow farmers in Eastern Canada puts me and my rural constituents at a competitive disadvantage. A Canadian farmer’s competitiveness should not depend on which region of the country they reside in.”
Dual marketing in Ontario has allowed the previous single-desk Ontario Wheat Board to grow into the multi-faceted Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), an organization which represents Ontario’s 28,000 growers of corn, soybean and wheat. Ontario-grown corn, soybean and wheat crops generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output, and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.
“The success of the GFO negates Canadian Wheat Board statements that it cannot survive without a monopoly,” concluded Hoback. “In fact, as witnessed in Ontario, the CWB could thrive.”
OTTAWA, February 10, 2011 – Today, Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament for the federal constituency of Prince Albert formally endorsed Ontario MP Bruce Stanton’s Private Members Bill C-619 which would give Western Canadian wheat and barley producers marketing choice.
Currently, the CWB operates a monopoly over the marketing of barley and wheat produced in Western Canada – a monopoly which deprives western farmers of the choice to market their product as they choose. Bill C-619, entitled, An Act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act (notice of opting out and licence for activities), would permit western farmers to “opt out” of participating in CWB activities for a minimum of two years.
MP Stanton’s Bill would permit Western producers to opt out of the CWB by giving notice within a specific three month period (January 1 – April 1) each year. This “opt out” provision would allow farmers a clear choice, while retaining predictability and stability for farmers who choose to remain in the CWB pool. The Bill strikes a balance, by retaining all the mechanisms of the statutory marketing authority (the CWB) and offering the alternative of marketing outside of the CWB.
“I commend my colleague (Bruce Stanton) on the introduction of this Bill on behalf of all Canadian wheat and barley producers,” said Mr. Hoback. “Being from Ontario, Bruce has seen how dual marketing has benefitted wheat producers in his province.”
“I wholeheartedly believe that Western Canadian farmers should have the same rights in marketing their product as farmers outside of Western Canada do,” added Mr. Hoback.
“As a former farmer, I am well aware that not having the same rights as my fellow farmers in Eastern Canada puts me and my rural constituents at a competitive disadvantage. A Canadian farmer’s competitiveness should not depend on which region of the country they reside in.”
Dual marketing in Ontario has allowed the previous single-desk Ontario Wheat Board to grow into the multi-faceted Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), an organization which represents Ontario’s 28,000 growers of corn, soybean and wheat. Ontario-grown corn, soybean and wheat crops generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output, and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.
“The success of the GFO negates Canadian Wheat Board statements that it cannot survive without a monopoly,” concluded Hoback. “In fact, as witnessed in Ontario, the CWB could thrive.”
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