MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Producers attending a meeting here last week say
they have lost confidence in Barry Senft and he should resign.
They said the head of the Canadian Grain Commission is more concerned
about grain company interests than those of farmers.
Last fall, the commission announced meetings to determine if producer
car loading facilities should be licensed as primary elevators,
regulated by a new type of licence or exempt from licensing.
The process was triggered by the response to the commission’s decision
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to license West Central Road and Rail as a primary elevator.
In Moose Jaw, Senft got an earful from angry producers who say there
should have been a fourth option that would exempt the facilities from
licensing but require certain operating conditions to be met.
They passed a motion calling on the commission to distribute another
discussion paper including the fourth option, and extend the
consultation beyond March 1.
A similar motion was passed unanimously a day earlier at a meeting
organized by WCRR in Eston.
Hudson Bay Route Association president Arnold Grambo, who moved the
motion, said Senft doesn’t listen well.
“How many times do you have to be hit over the head?” he asked.
Senft said the option was added to the existing discussion paper as an
example of how an exemption with conditions might work. He said there
are already exemptions for feedlots and seed cleaning plants.
Bill Woods, the secretary of WCRR, accused Senft of bias toward grain
companies. Option 1 would allow primary elevators to load producer cars.
“You have been pushing for option 1,” he told Senft. “You wouldn’t
budge.”
Senft said the commission is to remain neutral.
But Stewart Wells, president of the National Farmers Union, said he
thought the commission was formed to protect farmers.
“We don’t see any rhetoric about neutrality showing up before the last
five years,” Wells said.
Senft’s five-year term as chief commissioner ends March 31.
Henry Barbier of Vanguard said that’s long enough.
He said producers have lost confidence in Senft and called for his
resignation, saying Senft told the meeting that grain companies and
producers equally influence his decisions.
The motion passed, although few of the 120 at the meeting voted.
In an interview, Senft said he did not use any word to describe who has
more influence with him. He said his concern about the fourth option is
that it may be right for WCRR but not for other facilities.
“We included it as an example of how conditions might work,” he said.
He said the commission was criticized for initiating a consultation,
then had to extend it by a month. He said he is not inclined to extend
it further because other producer car groups have deals pending and are
waiting for the decision.
