OTTAWA – Grain farmers across the Prairies are being given one last chance this summer to offer direct advice to Ottawa on what kind of grain marketing system they want.
Come autumn, agriculture minister Ralph Goodale says he plans to make decisions.
This week, he is sending a letter to all grain producers asking them for any last thoughts on the issue by Aug. 31.
He wants their comments on some of the more contentious proposals from the Western Grain Marketing Panel, published July 9.
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- Should the Canadian Wheat Board of the future be guided by a board of directors with a majority elected by farmers and should it lose monopoly control over feed barley exports?
- Should the board be able to handle grains and oilseeds that now are non-board?
- Should organic and unlicensed wheat be sold outside the board?
- Should farmers be able to sell a quarter or more of their wheat outside the board pooling system, although still through the board?
But there are other panel recommendations also likely to arouse farmer interest.
Without precise detail, the panel suggests the federal government exercise “more rigorous controls” over strikes and lockouts in the grain handling and transportation system. It urges Ottawa to give employers “greater freedom to use replacement workers.”
It recommends Ottawa consider abandoning the policy of recovering more Canadian Grain Commission costs from the industry through fee-for-service charges, while suggesting the commission work with the industry to develop an identity-preserved system for grains being marketed outside the board.
It urges Ottawa to move quickly to figure out how the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange should be regulated, including the federal role. “A strong federal presence in the regulatory process should be preserved.”
While recommending that organically produced grains should not fall under the wheat board marketing monopoly, the panel does urge Ottawa and the industry to work hard to create a recognized national certification program.
Move away from Parliament
It also suggests that when Goodale proposes amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board Act, he make it “enabling legislation” so in future, changes can be made in board rules without the need to amend the legislation in Parliament.
The panel recommendations came after public hearings across the Prairies last winter. Panel members said they heard the message that change is needed.
“The most common concerns expressed about the CWB by farmers were a lack of accountability to farmers for its performance and inflexibility in its operating policies,” the panel reported.
