The Agricultural Producers of Saskatchewan (APAS) is calling on farmers to stand up for their right and demand a vote on the federal government’s proposed changes to the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB).

“The federal government is going to remove CWB single desk selling for wheat and barley. We believe producers should be the ones to make this decision - not other players in the supply chain, not other countries and not the government. Allow producers to send a message about what they want through a producer vote, with a very clear and simple question,” said APAS President, Ken McBride.

“The right of producers to vote on CWB changes is entrenched in the Canadian Wheat Board act,” said McBride. “The federal government should be the strongest enforcers of the law and the strongest defenders of Canadians’ democratic rights and freedoms.”

Earlier this month, APAS joined a coalition of prairie based organizations aimed at persuading the federal government to respect producers’ right to a plebiscite. In addition to APAS, this coalition includes the Wild Rose Agriculture Producers (WRAP), the National Farmers Union (NFU) and the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), and has the backing of the Manitoba and Saskatchewan provincial governments.

McBride is calling on all Saskatchewan producers to support the work of the coalition by writing, phoning, faxing and emailing their Member of Parliament to demand a vote before any changes are made to the CWB. Farmers, whether they support single desk or not, cannot be complacent and have the right to a vote on this issue, McBride said.

“We cannot afford to sit idly by while our rights are taken away from us,” said McBride.