CALGARY – A former executive of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association will oversee the privatization of Canada’s beef grading system.
Charlie Gracey, a former executive vice-president of the CCA, will help with the switch to a private, user pay service. Gracey left the CCA in 1990 to sit on the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, where he has worked for the last five years.
Based in Ottawa, Gracey will work out of Agriculture Canada offices and will help the CCA develop the business plan for the transition.
A preliminary plan was expected by July 12 for a national beef grading privatization work group, said a CCA news release. All sectors of the industry will be consulted by the committee as it develops an accredited grading service which Canada needs to maintain international acceptance in beef markets.
Grading standards will remain under federal regulation and a monitoring system will ensure accuracy.
The government announced in the federal budget that it was moving towards privatization and user pay schemes in services such as meat grading as a cost-cutting measure.
