SASKATOON – The grain industry is about to get four full-time ombudsmen.
Assistant commissioners at the Canadian Grain Commission are being given that new role to play as part of a cost-cutting exercise and general re-organization at the Winnipeg-based agency.
The commission is also reducing the number of assistant commissioners and regional offices from six to four, a move that has been criticized by the National Farmers Union.
The changes were announced by agriculture minister Ralph Goodale Sept. 30.
Until now, the six assistant commissioners have been mainly responsible for enforcing grain industry regulations and representing the commission to farmers and others in the industry, but that’s about to change.
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Future tasks are expected to stress ombudsman-like jobs, such as investigating producer complaints and mediating disputes.
Commission information officer Paul Graham said that’s already part of the assistant commissioners’ job description, but has taken a back seat because of other responsibilities.
“Now they’ll have more opportunity to deal with producer complaints because the regulatory enforcement side of their job will disappear,” he said.
New job descriptions
The responsibility for enforcing the commission’s regulations such as establishing and maintaining quality standards, inspecting and grading grain, administering producer cars and licensing grain dealers, will be taken over by agency employees. The assistant commissioners will continue to represent the agency to its clients and the public.
Goodale also announced that the number of assistant commissioners is being cut from six to four, and they will be relocated to existing federal government offices.
Under the old structure, there were assistant commissioners in Quebec, Ontario, Brandon, Regina, Saskatoon and Edmonton. Under the new set-up, they will be based in Montreal, Regina, Moose Jaw and Edmonton.
Goodale said the level of service won’t be compromised.
But one farm organization official said it’s “ludicrous” to suggest that service won’t be hurt by the closures.
Stuart Thiesson, of the National Farmers Union, said it’s ridiculous to have two assistant commissioners located just 70 kilometres apart in Regina and Moose Jaw, while the Saskatoon office is closed down. And he rejected the commission’s argument that northern Saskatchewan can be served out of Edmonton.
“Saskatchewan is, by far, the largest grain-producing province,” he said. “It would make more sense to serve northern Alberta out of Saskatoon.”
