I have chosen to volunteer my time because I believe we need new economic drivers that are capable of promoting the development of Manitoba's and Western Canada's rural economy. If the status quo was working, if wheat and barley farmers were able to take home reasonable returns, if our kids had reasons to stay in Manitoba or come back to our rural communities, I would stay home and focus only on my farm.

A reformed, voluntary CWB can thrive in the new environment. We do not need to look abroad to support this fact. There have been a number of successful transitions to marketing choice right here in Canada. I refer for example, to the changes to hog marketing boards in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. These reforms have facilitated significant growth within the hog industry on the prairies. This has benefited farmers as well as the economy as a whole. There is no consideration being given anywhere to returning to a single desk hog marketing system. Economic realities have trumped philosophical and ideological views. The same should apply to the reform of the CWB.

I strongly encourage all farmers and the CWB to move beyond the debates of yesterday and engage in the building of a new business environment for western Canadian farmers. In this new environment, the future of the CWB will be in its capability to be the earned choice of farmers and customers, and it will do that through the provision of real value.