n. — Agriculture
a marketing board that controlled the sales of wheat and barley produced in western Canada.
Type: 1. Origin — The Canadian Wheat Board was established by the federal government after World War I as a temporary measure to regulate grain sales; after it was abolished, provincial wheat pools performed some of the same functions. It was re-established in 1935 as the Depression was forcing farmers into bankruptcy and it was the sole marketing board for wheat and barley until 2012, when its successor entity became just one of several purchasers and whole sellers (see Canadian Encyclopedia, Maple Leaf Web). The Canadian Wheat Board shaped the development of the nation in the 20th century and particularly of much of Western Canada. It is considered by some as a culturally significant institution that stood for some key ideas in 20th-century Canada.
See also COD-2, s.v. "Wheat Board", which is marked "Cdn".