Farmers who support single desk grain marketing in Western Canada have launched another court action against the federal government.
Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board announced last week that a lawsuit has been launched to restore a farmer-controlled wheat board and recover financial damages, potentially worth $17 billion.
“Our goals in this action are twofold,” said Steven Shrybman, a lawyer with SackGoldblatt Mitchell, the Ontario law firm that will handle the case.
“Our primary objective is to restore democratic farmer control of the wheat board and the right of producers to collectively market their grain. We are also seeking compensation from the government for damages it has caused to the interests of producers.”
Winnipeg lawyer Anders Bruun, who will act as co-counsel, said the lawsuit will involve constitutional arguments aimed at restoring the board as well as a class action component.
The lawsuit will seek damages of $3.75 to $17 billion, regardless of whether the case succeeds in re-instating a farmer-controlled wheat board.
