Reforms to the Canadian Grain Commission as recommended in a consultant’s report would reduce its legislated role as farmers’ champion, the National Farmers Union told a parliamentary committee last week.
Vice-president Terry Boehm said at the core of the CGC mandate are the words in the existing legislation that the commission’s work will be “in the interests of grain producers.”
The report from Compas Inc. suggests those words be removed and a more explicit set of farmers’ rights be spelled out.
While not objecting to the explicit list, Boehm said removing the general mandate would be dangerous, since the grain industry now is more concentrated and powerful than it was a century ago when the commission was established.
Read Also
Final crop reports show strong yields, quality
Crops yielded above average across the Prairies this year, and quality is generally average to above-average.
“Without a strong regulator with a mandate to act in the interests of these grain producers, the consequences will be grave for farmers,” said the NFU official. “These grain companies recognize the economic gains they can make on the backs of farmers if the mandate changes over time. This will be an incremental but relentless process.”
Boehm also objected to a proposal that the commission be authorized to contract out some inspection services and that inspections of grain at transfer or terminal elevators be optional.
In contrast, the Western Grain Elevators Association told MPs the companies generally support the Compas recommendations.
“While we do not agree 100 percent with all aspects of (the) report, we do believe that the report’s recommendations would reform the system to bring in the flexibility required for the changing markets,” said WGEA executive director Wade Sobkowich.
The companies supported the suggestion that the present commissioner and assistant commissioner structure be changed to a more traditional corporate structure with a chief executive officer, vice-presidents and other senior executives under a CEO.
“This would take out much of the politicization that has arisen from the current structure,” said Sobkowich.
He said the WGEA also supports replacing the mandate “in the interests of grain producers” with a more precise list of farmer rights under the legislation. “The change removes the ambiguity from the mandate.”
During his appearance before the committee, Compas president Conrad Winn said during public consultation, there was little “positive feedback” from farmers about the CGC, likely because meetings tend to attract people with complaints.
In his later testimony, Boehm challenged that description of the meetings.
He said the NFU had representatives at consultation meetings in Saskatchewan and many farmers “unequivocally expressed support for the CGC, particularly the role of assistant commissioners.” Winn’s comments were “categorically not accurate.”
