Grain terminals in Western Canada are calling on government and opposition parties to pledge financial support for Canadian Grain Commission services.
The 11 members of the Inland Terminal Association of Canada, each of which is at least 50 percent owned by farmers and together represent about 5,000 shareholders, say the funds required to ensure the CGC does not lose money is more easily afforded by government than industry or producers.
The CGC has been engaged in consultations with industry and farm groups on how it can break even financially for its services, such as inspection, weighing and producer car services.
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Under the commission’s latest proposal there will be large fee increases beginning in 2012, followed by annual 1.6 percent increases over the following four years.
That plan would see 100 percent of cost recovery borne by producers.
ITAC executive director Kevin Hursh said in a news release that the government’s own Growing Forward II document stresses the importance of government spending to support food safety and quality, as well as international trade. That seems to be a contradiction to the CGC review
“With a federal election underway, the ITAC will be urging each of the political parties to make support for CGC services part of their election promise to farmers,” said Hursh.
