In fact, we did hold a referendum in 1995, and we've also continued to tap into the surveys of producers across the province. For the information of the committee, the referendum in 1995 was a 67% vote for choice. Indeed, the support for choice amongst barley growers in Alberta, even as late as this year, is well above 60%. The support for choice in wheat is well above 55%.
You ask me if we would have a plebiscite on the Canadian Wheat Board. It's the same question as Mr. Easter asked. If you're going to give me a question that says, either you want the Canadian Wheat Board or you don't want the Canadian Wheat Board, that's not our position. Our position is, do you want to have the choice to belong to the Canadian Wheat Board or to do your own marketing? That's a fundamental right.
Our position has always been that the Canadian Wheat Board has told us time and time again how good it is. They have told us about the branding they do, the marketing expertise they have, and the information expertise they have. They've told us that all of these things make them a very good organization. As was mentioned by one of my colleagues, all of the new offerings they've made have thousands of farmers signing up. If that's true, why are they afraid of choice? Why are they afraid of being a competitive player in the marketplace?
You talked about a plebiscite. Quebec has a lot of sovereignty in terms of some of the decisions they make in regard to marketing boards and other things. That's fine. But this vote should be in Alberta, and this vote should be by Alberta producers on a question of choice, and it should be based on how much skin they have in the game.
I think it's interesting. The shareholders in the Canadian Wheat Board are producers, so let's not try to scare everyone by saying that the business is bad and farmers aren't business people. Farming is a business. It's a way of life, but it's also a business. In most cases, it's a family-owned business; 97% of the farms in Alberta are family-owned. I am not representing big business; I'm representing that 97%. I'm representing those farmers who have told me they wouldn't mind building a flour mill and exporting that flour to Central America. They can't do it competitively right now because of the purchasing rules and regulations the Canadian Wheat Board has on domestic pricing. I know. I used to be in that business.
You asked me what I'm afraid of. What are they afraid of? Are they afraid they can't compete?