Canadian Wheat Board

The Canadian Wheat Board was created in 1935 by Prime Minister Richard Bedford Bennett as part of his New Deal, which promised federal government intervention to achieve social and economic reform. At a time when wheat prices continued to drop because of the Great Depression and drought on the prairies was in its third year, the board aimed to help market the crop. It bought up all the wheat to support prices and offered a minimum price that would protect farmers from further declines.