Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 20, 2008) - Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz issued the following statement today in response to a Federal Court decision on the Canadian Wheat Board's challenge of the Government's Direction Orders to the CWB in October 2006 and January 2007.

"We are disappointed by the Court's decision regarding the Government's direction order to the Canadian Wheat Board to focus spending on grain marketing.

"The Government maintains that the Canadian Wheat Board must focus all of its efforts on marketing grain for Western Canadian farmers rather than using its money to advocate its own agenda.

"We are currently studying the ruling as we consider our next steps. We will be assessing the possibility of an appeal.

"The Government is pleased that the Court ruled that the case on the remuneration of interim CWB president Greg Arason is moot.

"This Government listens to farmers and will continue to do what is right for them and farm families. Unlike those who want to impose a massive carbon tax on farm operations and centralize the selling of grain, we will work for Western Canadian farmers to ensure that they have a prosperous future which includes the marketing freedom they want to sell their grain."