The Canadian Grain Commission is wasting time by reviewing rules that require the weighing and inspection of grain arriving at terminal elevators, says a senior grain industry official.
Brian Hayward, chief executive officer of Agricore United, said the issue should have been left to a broader review of the CGC initiated by the federal government.
“This is frustrating and confusing to a lot of people in the industry,” Hayward said in an interview after raising the issue during a speech to the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association.
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“We should just agree that we’ve got this big review going on that Parliament mandated, and doing this separate review on weighing and inspection is simply cluttering up the agenda.”
The grain commission’s review is being done by the consulting firm Meyers Norris Penny and is expected to be completed by May.
The federal government review, which will entail a comprehensive look at every aspect of CGC operations, is to be completed by Aug. 1. It will include two public meetings in each of the prairie provinces in June.
The MNP review will provide a cost-benefit analysis of the long-standing policy under the Canada Grain Act requiring every rail car arriving at a terminal or transfer elevator to be inspected and weighed by CGC personnel. Samples are taken to establish grade, dockage, moisture and protein and to check for contamination or infestation.
Grain handling companies say the rule represents an unnecessary and costly intrusion into their business and say it should be made optional, based on the requirement of the parties involved.
The Canadian Wheat Board says having a third party like the CGC oversee the inspection system provides farmers some assurance they are being fairly treated. It also contributes to the quality assurance system.
Farm groups are split on the issue, with the National Farmers Union in support of the current system and the WCWGA favouring optional inspection.
During an appearance at the wheat growers convention, CGC assistant chief commissioner Terry Harasym was questioned about the grain commission review.
“Why are you having MNP do that review at producers’ expense, when the parliamentary review will do it at the government’s expense?” asked wheat grower Bill Cooper of Foam Lake, Sask.
Harasym said the issue has been around for years and the commission had decided before the parliamentary review was announced to analyze whether the rule needed revision.
“Every organization and business at times needs to look at what it’s doing to see if there are better or more efficient ways to go,” he said, describing it as part of the commission’s ongoing due diligence process.
