Canada: Federal Government's appeal on barley marketing is rejected

A panel of appeal court judges upholds an earlier decision, which said the Conservative government could not eliminate the single desk selling system for malting barley and export feed barley, according to Saskatoon home page, February 26.

Last summer, a federal court judge blocked a move to implement an open barley market. She said any changes would have to be approved by parliament . . . and not an order-in-council from cabinet.

The appeal court decision means the Conservative government will need to pass a law in Parliament to make the change . . . something that will require opposition support. The Liberals and NDP strongly oppose removing the CWB's barley monopoly. At last word, the Bloc Quebecois was also against the idea.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz previously announced plans to introduce legislation in late February or early March.

27 February, 2008