Wheat producers to be paid sooner

Canada’s federal government has introduced the Canadian Wheat Board Payments and Election Reform Act.

The aim, say the feds, is to strengthen farmers’ voices within the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) and streamline the process required to deliver payments to producers.

“Western Canadian farmers deserve to get paid as quickly as possible and they also deserve effective governance,” says Gerry Ritz, minister of Agriculture and minister for the CWB.

“This legislation will streamline the process required to pay farmers for their top-quality grain to help make sure pay cheques hit mailboxes as quickly as possible.”

The legislation confirms voting rights for grain farmers who produce 40 tons of grain or who are entitled to 40 tons under a crop-share arrangement.

This approach is baed on recommendations from the 2005 CWB Election Review Panel and the CWB itself.

The legislation eliminates a step in the process to pay producers for their grain.

The current system requires analysis from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Finance, as well as Treasury Board approval before payments are delivered.

Under the new legislation, Treasury Board approval will no longer be required.

This could speed up the payment process by as much as three weeks.