Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl has announced a plebiscite will be held early in the new year on the marketing of barleyin Western Canada.

 


Strahl says he will consult with stakeholders in order to develop a plebiscite question that will be clear and decided by a broad base of voters.


A task force report released earlier this week on implementing marketing choice suggested legislation as the first step to removing the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly powers.


Strahl has decided to go with consultation first, and feels holding a plebiscite on barley marketing is an important way of consulting.


Who will be eligible to vote, and the plebiscite question will be developed with the help of stakeholder feed back after the current Canadian Wheat Board director elections.