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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND THE CANADIAN WHEAT BOARD

OTTAWA, Ontario, December 13, 2006 - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today issued the following statement regarding the inclusion of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) under the Access to Information Act as proposed in Bill C-2, The Federal Accountability Act.

"Canada’s New Government is seeking greater openness and accountability by bringing bodies such as CWB under the Access to Information Act. The administrative costs of the CWB now amount to almost $70 million annually, and farmers should have a way of scrutinizing those costs.

"Bringing the CWB under the Access to Information Act will not require it to release commercially sensitive information. The Access to Information Act protects information that is commercially sensitive.

"The Deputy Information Commissioner confirmed this in his testimony to a Senate Committee last week, yet the CWB demands to know the reason behind any information request.

"Canada’s New Government is committed to providing marketing choice to western grain farmers, while preserving a strong and transparent CWB."

For information on the new government’s path towards marketing choice, please visit Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-759-7972
1-866-345-7972

Jeff Howard
Press Secretary
Minister Strahl's Office
613-759-1059

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