The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association applauds the Canadian Chamber of Commerce for adding its voice in support of farmers and business leaders who champion a voluntary Canadian Wheat Board.
“The Chamber recognizes that greater prosperity will come about in an open and competitive market,” says Kevin Bender, President of the Wheat Growers. “One only has to look at the tremendous investment in the canola, pulse and oat industries to see the prosperity that can occur when farmers and processors are free to do business with one another.”
The resolution passed at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce held this week in Gatineau, Quebec called for an amendment to the Canadian Wheat Board Act to give western Canadian farmers and value-added processors the option to deal with the CWB on a voluntary basis. The resolution further called on the Minister responsible for the CWB to immediately use his powers to instruct the CWB to issue no-cost licenses for domestic or export shipments of wheat and barley products.
The resolution was put forward by the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce. The Wheat Growers congratulate the Red Deer Chamber and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce for recognizing the value and importance of a voluntary CWB.
In addition to enhancing farm profits and encouraging investment in value-added processing, the Wheat Growers see a voluntary CWB as spurring greater investment in wheat and barley research, and giving farmers a better opportunity to plug into those value chains that offer more choice for consumers.
“The resolution passed by the Chamber of Commerce recognizes our nation’s prosperity was built through the ingenuity and determination of entrepreneurs,” says Cherilyn Nagel, Past President of the Wheat Growers. “Restoring that entrepreneurial spirit in western wheat and barley is long overdue.”
