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MINISTER STRAHL ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT TO PLEBISCITE ON MARKETING CHOICE FOR BARLEY AND WHEAT

OTTAWA, Ontario, January 16, 2007 - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today issued the following statement on Canada's New Government's commitment to provide Western grain farmers with a choice in the way they market their grain.

"Canada's New Government is committed to providing marketing choice to western grain farmers, while continuing to preserve a strong Canadian Wheat Board as one of those choices."

"We committed last fall to a plebiscite on barley and last week I announced that the voting period will begin on January 31.

"I am announcing today that Canada's New Government will hold a further plebiscite on the marketing of wheat at an appropriate time. Western Canadian farmers have the Government's commitment that no changes will be made in the Canadian Wheat Board's role in the marketing of wheat until after that vote is held."

For more information on marketing choice, please visit: The Path Toward 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