The imminent closure of Agriculture Canada’s Cereal Research Centre, on top of the loss of the CWB monopoly, has many in Manitoba convinced that Winnipeg’s 100-year reign as Canada’s grain capital is officially over.
“It (the closure) certainly sends a bit of message that … Winnipeg will no longer be a driving force in the wheat world. I hate to say that,” said Rex Newkirk, Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) director of research and business development.
The Winnipeg research centre, which is slated to close in two years under federal budget cutting plans, is a significant asset for CIGI.
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Scientists at the centre specialize in wheat and oat breeding, plant disease resistance and cereal quality. Newkirk said CIGI used them to reassure international customers that Canada has the expertise to develop and produce high quality wheat and other grain.
“The industry is here and you’ve got the breeders and market development here,” Newkirk said.
“Having us all in close proximity was very, very valuable…. They (Cereal Research Centre staff) could come over here and work with our international clients.”
The loss of the Cereal Research Centre may also kill a long hibernating plan to build a centre of grains excellence at the University of Manitoba.
The centre, which has been talked about for seven years, would have put the Cereal Research Centre, CIGI, the Canadian Grain Commission and the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre in one building, thus creating a powerful crop and market development facility.
However, plans to revive the city’s grain industry are now “hanging on by fingernails,” said Jon Gerrard, provincial MLA and leader of Manitoba’s Liberal party.
“This has to come together very quickly or it’s gone. And Winnipeg as a centre for grain research goes. I’m very fearful that CIGI will go. What we have had and built up over the last century, in terms of Winnipeg as the centre of the grain industry … is just being eroded.”
Gerrard said the provincial government has failed to invest in wheat research and failed in its commitment to the grain industry. In comparison, the Saskatchewan government invested $10 million in wheat research earlier this winter.
Manitoba’s inaction on wheat research has stalled the development of the grains centre of excellence, Gerrard said.
“The provincial government didn’t come forward aggressively, promoting and supporting it, which they should have done.”
A government spokesperson said the province would continue its efforts, in partnership with industry and the federal government, to pursue the new grain centre.
However, Gerrard said the province’s relationship with the federal government blocks progress on these types of projects.
“There has been, too often, a tendency of the current NDP government to blame the federal government, rather than work with them.”
