OTTAWA – Today Bill C-619, an Act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act (notice of opting out and licence for activities) was introduced in the House of Commons.  Member of Parliament Bruce Stanton (Simcoe North) introduced a Private Members Bill that would allow Western Canadian grain farmers the ability to opt out of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). 

“Our Government has always been clear that Western Canadian grain farmers deserve the freedom to choose how they market their grain, and we believe farmers are best equipped to make their own business decisions,” said David Anderson, Member of Parliament (Cypress Hills-Grasslands) and Parliamentary Secretary for the Canadian Wheat Board. “Farmers who see opportunity elsewhere should have the same right that all other Canadian farmers enjoy, and this legislation would give them that opportunity.”

If passed, this legislation would add a provision that allows producers the option to seek an exemption from the CWB. To allow for predictability for the Canadian Wheat Board, any producer opting to be exempted from the pool is prohibited from re-entering the pool for a minimum of two full crop years. The producer wishing to opt back into the pool will also be required to provide one year notice to the CWB of their intention to participate. This approach allows for the Canadian Wheat Board to remain a viable option for all those producers who wish to continue to market through the Board.

The introduction of this new legislation demonstrates once again that the Government of Canada is committed to giving farmers the freedom to choose who they sell their grain to and when they sell it.