New legislation was introduced on May 14th to make some changes to the Wheat Board. The press has concentrated on the sections of the Canadian Wheat Board Payments and Election Reform Act which mandate that only actual grain farmers vote in Wheat Board elections.
 
However, this new legislation also changes how Wheat Board payments are issued to farmers.
 
Currently, Wheat Board payments have to wind their way through a bureaucratic maze of at least three federal departments (Agriculture, Finance and the Treasury Board) before the money is sent to farmers.  This means that it can take from one to three months for farmers to get their cheques.
 
The CWB Reform Act will streamline the process and should cut in half the time it takes farmers to receive their cheques.  Considering that there are always bills to pay, I`m sure these reforms will be good news.
 
I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.