[wind blowing]
It's about giving wheat and barley farmers across Western Canada the same rights...
...as Don and his family enjoy here in Ontario.
It's about giving Western farmers the right to do what they want with the crop...
...that they paid to plant, spent months to grow and worked tirelessly to harvest.
This legislation is about today's market-savvy farmer...
...who is in the process of taking over her parents' farm and wants to make sure her wheat crop...
...can be as profitable as her other crops are.
It's about the farm family who has suffered from drought in recent years...
...and wants the ability to sell their wheat and barley when it suits...
...their situation and their business plan.
[wind blowing]
...It's about the barley farmer who wants to join with other farmers...
...without having to buy back his own crop first.
Most of all, it's about creating an environment where farmers...
...can run their business because they know that when they can do that...
...they help drive Canada's economy.
We've seen tremendous growth in value-added opportunities for oats...
...special crops, and canola across the Prairies over the past two decades.
We know that our wheat and barley growers have what it takes to succeed in that same way.
[strong wind blowing]
Just a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister and I were in Regina to celebrate the announcement ...
...of a new pasta plant that will buy locally produced durum wheat...
...directly from farmers and create 60 local jobs.
This long awaited announcement is only the beginning.
An open market will increase the number of buyers bidding on our wheat...
...barley, just as they do for their canola, pulses and oats.
Unlike what some people may claim, the sky will not fall in an open market.
Instead, the sky will be the limit. And to reach that limit, the Harper government...
...has developed a comprehensive plan that will provide for an orderly transition to this open market.