September 21, 2007

 

Canada gov't strives to end CWB barley monopoly

 

 

Canada's Conservative government intends to continue with its plan to end the Canadian Wheat Board's (CWB) barley-marketing monopoly and replace the Canadian Agriculture Income Stabilization, or CAIS, program, said a spokesman for Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

 

Ritz was appointed to his current position last month by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He replaces Chuck Strahl, who moved to the Indian Affairs and Northern Development portfolio.

 

The Conservative government still hopes to allow Canadian barley farmers the freedom to sell their product to domestic or foreign buyers of their choice, including the CWB. The proposed plan would remove the barley marketing monopoly from the CWB's authority, said Denis Labossiere, Senior Media Relations Advisor for Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada.

 

The Conservative government is appealing a federal court ruling that declared that the government overstepped its boundaries by attempting to end the CWB barley marketing monopoly through regulation rather than legislation.

 

Labossiere said that, provided the appeal is heard before the end of winter and is successful, new rules governing barley marketing would come into effect for the next crop year beginning Aug. 1, 2008.

 

He said the government has no plans at this time to hold a plebiscite, or direct vote, on the issue of wheat marketing.

 

Ritz is also proceeding with plans to replace the CAIS program with a conglomerate of Business Risk Management, or BRM, programs, a decision made prior to Ritz' appointment. Together AgriInvest, AgriStability, AgriInsurance and AgriRecovery form the BRM programs set to begin this fall, Labossiere said.

 

The ministry says the BRM programs will improve on the CAIS program by ensuring financial insurance is more inclusive and is available faster. Other improvements include streamlining the application process and offering more accurate loss assessments, the ministry said.

 

Ritz is the Member of Parliament for Battlefords- Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Ritz previously served as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food as well as Critic for Agriculture and Agri-food. Ritz owned and operated a farm in Saskatchwan for many years, concentrating mainly on grain and later diversifying to ostriches.