WCE Ready for Dual Marketing

WINNIPEG - Mar 7/06 - SNS -- The Winnipeg Commodity Exchange (WCE) is ready for the moment dual marketing of export wheat and barley is allowed in Canada.

Its board approved in principle three new futures and options contracts to be listed when changes occur to the marketing system for wheat and barley in Canada.

"The new Federal Conservative Government has promised to move toward the implementation of a dual marketing system in Canada for the export of Canadian wheat and barley. WCE will have risk management products in place when the changes occur", said Lorne DeJaeger, Chairman.

The new contracts for spring and durum wheat and the revised contract for barley are modeled on the WCE flagship canola contract, with all three contracts having corresponding options contracts. "The major features of the contracts have been designed and the details will be finalized in the next few weeks", said Will Hill, Sr. Vice President of the Exchange.

"Canadian farmers and grain industry players can be confident that Winnipeg Commodity Exchange Inc. will be offering valuable made-in-Canada solutions to risk management and price discovery for wheat and barley in the dual market system. The canola contract is a vital part of the canola industry in Canada and we expect these contracts will also be a vital part of the grain industry", said Mike Gagné, President and CEO of WCE.