The CWB Transition Working group report is now in the hands of Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.

The report addresses issues related to the importance of certainty for the market, a voluntary wheat board and how the grain marketing and transportation systems can adapt to an open market.

Among the recommendations, the group recommends maintaining producers' right to their own rail cars and having the Minister monitor the availability of producer cars while continuing with implementation of the service agreements outlined in the Rail Service Review.  There’s also a recommendation to continue with the Advance Payment Program through the transition period. The administrator of the program would be decided by Minister Ritz.

The report adds farmers, the supply chain and customers need predictability and certainty, so another recommendation asks the Minister to consider measures to facilitate the development of a new business model for a voluntary CWB.