Federal agriculture officials say all stakeholders will be consulted as the review of the Canada Grain Act proceeds.
Last week the National Farmers Union suggested that the government was listening only to grain companies as it reviews the legislation as promised in the budget earlier this year.
It called on the government to stop the review and conduct a new one when “bona fide” farmers are at the table.
Cam Goff, the NFU’s vice-president of policy, said he wondered who is making agricultural policy: elected officials or “unaccountable employees” of Agriculture Canada.
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“With the active participation of the chief commissioner of the (Canadian Grain Commission), AAFC has settled into the CGC’s Winnipeg office, pushed aside the two appointed farmer commissioners and has held multiple meetings with representatives of the grain industry,” Goff said in an opinion piece.
“They are reportedly preparing a plan that will strip farmers of the protections put into place over 100 years ago and replace them with an industry wish list that will clear the way for the likes of Cargill, Viterra and Bunge to decide the rules of the grain trade.”
He said the act and the CGC are the only institutions left that put farmer interests first.
An agriculture department spokesperson said the review is at a very early stage and a work plan is in development. Legislation hasn’t yet been drafted.
There were informal discussions with the Grains Value Chain Round Table in the spring and summer, and farmers are members of that group.
“AAFC will be listening to all stakeholders as the review process gets underway, and all interested parties will have an opportunity to put forward their views as to how the Canada Grain Act can best meet the needs of Canada’s modern grain sector,” said an email from the department.
Grain Growers of Canada president Jeff Nielsen said with the election campaign underway he didn’t expect much progress until the new year. He also said farmers are at the table representing all commodity groups, but the discussion hasn’t really started yet.
