Marketing Freedom Legislation Will Liberate Western Grain Farmers

Western Canadian wheat and barley farmers will have the freedom to market their grain and will no longer be treated as criminals for selling their own grain after August 1st, 2012.
“The Harper Government is promising farmers a future in agriculture where they can make their own business decisions,” said David Anderson, Member of Parliament for Cypress Hills-Grasslands, Saskatchewan and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food for the Canadian Wheat Board. “This Act will give Western Canadian farmers the freedom to choose how to market their grain, whether that's individually or through a voluntary Canadian Wheat Board.”
The Marketing Freedom of Grain Farmers Act, once it receives Royal Assent, will allow farmers and grain companies to immediately enter into forward contracts for the purchase or sale of wheat, barley and durum for execution after August 1st, 2012. The Act will also allow an interim Canadian Wheat Board to serve as a voluntary marketing entity, supported by the federal Government, while it transitions to full private ownership.
“The economy is a top priority of our Government,” said Mr. Anderson. “An open grain market will attract investment, encourage innovation, create value-added jobs and build a stronger economy, not only here in Alberta, but for all of Canada.”
Working with Western Canadian grain farmers, their organizations and provincial partners, the Government of Canada is committed to an orderly transition to market freedom which includes a viable, voluntary pooling entity, as part of an open and competitive Canadian grain market.

A Little Background
Nine years ago 13 farmers went to jail for a cause they believed in.
Reports from October 31st, 2002, said, “There were few dry eyes in front of the Lethbridge courthouse Halloween afternoon as 13 upstanding citizens hugged their loved ones and marched resolutely off to prison.”
Premier Ralph Klein told the crowd of 600 to give the farmers a cheering, clapping send-off. "When decent, hard-working Alberta farmers are willing to take the extreme measure of going to jail for the sake of fundamental freedoms, there's something wrong with the laws of the land," (said Mr. Klein.) "It's a system that has to be changed."
That system is now being changed.
The Liberal government had persecuted them in every way possible, bringing all the resources of several government departments against individual Canadians.
But these farmers would not back down. They stood fearlessly for what they knew to be right. And they paid a huge price for it.
On Tuesday, October 25th they met to celebrate our commitment to marketing freedom. Their sacrifice was not in vain.