Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz is reappointing for three-year terms two of the three Canadian Grain Commission commissioners.
Jim Smolik, former British Columbia Grain Producers’ Association president and Grain Growers of Canada president, will be reappointed for a three-year term as assistant chief commissioner beginning Nov. 24.
He has been on the CGC since 2007.
Murdoch MacKay, a grain elevator sector representative, will serve a new three-year term beginning Dec. 5, 2013.
After a career with United Grain Growers and Agricore United, he was appointed to the CGC by Ritz in 2010.
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Chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson, a former Saskatchewan Reform Party MP for the riding held now by Ritz, was appointed by the minister in 2008 and re-appointed to a three-year term in January.
The three reappointments will give continuity to the grain commission in the aftermath of last year’s changes to its mandate and an expected move by the government this year or next to change the governance structure of the commission.
In his statement announcing the reappointments June 10, Ritz said he wanted to keep the same management team in place during transition.
“Our commissioners’ leadership has been instrumental in our government’s recent actions to streamline and modernize the operations of the CGC,” he said. “In the years ahead, farmers will continue to rely on their expertise in strengthening Canada’s grain industry at home and abroad.”
Critics insist the changes made by the Conservative government to download costs to the industry, increase user fees, end most government financing support and eliminate some mandatory services including inward inspection are an attempt to weaken the CGC and to shift power to the grain industry.
The century-old commission establishes and oversees Canadian grain quality standards and grain handling practices in Canada.
