Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to over 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to farmers. The CWB is single desk in its marketing structure and its whole premise is built upon the concept that farmers benefit from marketing their grain together, as one, big or small. The Wheat Board belongs to farmers. They pay for its operations from the sale of grain and run it through elected representatives on the CWB board of directors. However, the federal Government has announced its intention to remove the CWB's single desk for wheat and barley as of August 1, 2012, with legislation to be introduced this fall. Minister Gerry Ritz have said that farmers will not be allowed a vote, despite the majority of farmers voting for maintaining CWB single desk marketing in a recent plebiscite. The CWB is not a grain company; it has no grain-handling in