Sue's Blog

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Super Minister Strahl suring up Marketing

MINISTER STRAHL SHARES RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MARKETING CHOICE ROUNDTABLE MEETING

OTTAWA, Ontario, September 8, 2006 – The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), today released Charting the Path to Marketing Choice, a summary report of recommendations from the July 27 roundtable meeting, which took place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

“Canada’s new government is committed to moving forward on our promise to provide farmers with a choice in how they market their products,” said Minister Strahl. “A lot of thought, significant ideas and viable alternatives went into participants’ recommendations and these, as well as other ideas, will be under consideration as we move forward.”

This report captures participants’ ideas in a number of areas, including the possible corporate structure of the CWB, additional financial and marketing instruments for farmers or the CWB, and how to ensure an orderly implementation of marketing choice. The report also notes the unanimity amongst participants that the CWB must remain competitive in global and domestic markets to continue to serve western farmers who choose to sell grain through it.

The July 27 roundtable meeting included participation of farmers, a variety of industry organizations, academics and the Alberta government, as well as observers from the provincial governments of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Following the roundtable, the Minister announced that he had tasked his officials to develop a roadmap to marketing choice. Canada’s new government is committed to consulting farmers on marketing choice and how to maintain a strong and profitable CWB, and it will keep that promise.

emphasis added

Loyola the roundtable meeting for agriculture which is a provincial resource is completed with a list of recommendations. The great Fisheries Summit - Loyola do you have any thoughts on that? And note how Strahl says "keep that promise" - try that on for size Minister Hearn.


No comments: