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MINISTER STRAHL ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE CANADIAN WHEAT BOARD

OTTAWA, Ontario, December 19, 2006 - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today announced the appointment of Greg Arason as interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). Mr. Arason will serve for a three-month transition period until a new President can be selected.

"Since Mr. Arason was the Wheat Board's President for four years and has an enormous amount of experience as an executive in the grain industry, I am confident he will provide the leadership required during this transition phase," said Minister Strahl. "I am pleased he has accepted this interim appointment, as it will allow us sufficient time to make sure we find the right person to do the job on a permanent basis."

Mr. Arason was President and CEO of the CWB between 1998 and 2002 and prior to that was CEO of Manitoba Pool Elevators. He has served as a director of a number of agri-business companies and industry associations including CanAmera Foods, Can-Oat Milling, The Chamber of Maritime Commerce, Canada Grains Council, Prince Rupert Grain, Westco Fertilizers, Western Grain Elevator Association, and XCAN Grain.

"Canada's New Government is committed to providing Prairie grain producers with marketing choice - the same choices other farmers across the country have to market their products," said Minister Strahl. "We are also committed to maintaining a strong Wheat Board, to ensure that producers who want to continue to sell through the Board will have that option."

Minister Strahl will give an opportunity for farmers to express their opinion on the marketing of barley with a plebiscite early in the new year.

For information on the new government's path towards marketing choice, please visit Marketing Choice for Western Wheat and Barley.

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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