Statement from Minister Ritz on the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Marketing Freedom

April 9, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Today the Supreme Court of Canada rejected the leave application to continue with the class action lawsuit brought by the Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board (Dennis et al) against the Government for removing the single-desk monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board.

This decision upheld the previous decisions of the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal which ruled in favour of the Government and awarded costs to the Crown.

“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada once again upholds Western Canadian farmers’ right to marketing freedom.

“The overwhelming majority of farmers have embraced the new economic opportunities created by marketing freedom and are taking Canadian agriculture to record heights.

“Marketing freedom is and will remain the law of the land. Our Government will continue to defend the rights of farmers and will continue to work with farmers to create economic opportunities across the sector.”
– Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz