Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada News Release
March 7, 2007

BARLEY PLEBISCITE QUESTION IS CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS

OTTAWA, Ontario – The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today issued the following statement after a debate in the House of Commons regarding the government's plebiscite on marketing choice for barley, which is currently underway.

"We believe that there can be a strong Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) within a marketing choice system. Farmers should be allowed to seek out the best possible price for their product.

"Canada's New Government said it would consult with farmers and stakeholders and that’s why we decided to have a plebiscite on the marketing of barley with a clear, unambiguous question.

"The question asked producers to pick one of three options for how they would prefer to see barley marketed: the current system – the CWB monopoly, an open market or a system where they would have the choice to use the CWB or do it themselves.

"These three options are clear, simple, and to the point. Farmers are more than capable of expressing their preference for the option of their choice.

"Eligible producers have until March 13 to get their ballots in the mail. I urge all eligible barley producers to participate in the plebiscite to ensure that their voices are heard."

"Canada's New Government is committed to moving forward in providing marketing choice to Western barley farmers, while continuing to preserve a strong Canadian Wheat Board as one of those choices."

For more information on the plebiscite, please visit www.2007barleyvote.ca. For more information on marketing choice, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/cwb.

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