The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, says the federal government is committed to providing Western grain farmers with a choice in the way they market their grain.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Strahl said Canada 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.”