Estey’s meetings with farmers expected to be wide open

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Published: April 23, 1998

Anyone who has anything to say about the grain handling and transportation system is getting their chance.

Justice Willard Estey, who is reviewing the system for the federal government, is meeting with farmers at a series of five town hall meetings being held across the Prairies.

There’s no agenda for the meetings, and no real plan other than to let individual producers speak their mind.

Given the wide range of opinions on the contentious issues being reviewed by Estey, that could make for some entertaining meetings.

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“It’s expected there will be a variety of views and perhaps contrary views expressed, and justice Estey would like to hear them all,” said Kieran Brett, spokesperson for the grain review secretariat.

“It should be an interesting dialogue and perhaps a lively one.”

The first meeting was held last week in Moose Jaw. This week meetings are being held in Rosthern and Rosetown in Saskatchewan. They wrap up next week at Portage la Prairie, Man., April 28 and Rycroft, Alta., April 30.

Estey is also meeting with farm organizations and other stakeholders this month as he continues the first phase of the review, identifying problems and key issues to be dealt with.

Once that is done, and once the Canadian Wheat Board’s level of service complaint against the railways has been resolved, Estey will develop specific recommendations on how to improve the system. His report is to be submitted to the minister of transport by Dec. 31.

Multitude of issues

The issues under review include such things as freight rates, rail line abandonment, elevator closures, competition between the railways, the role of the Canadian Wheat Board in transportation, the future of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the grain grading system and labor relations. About the only issues strictly out of bounds are the future of the grain marketing system and the wheat board.

In a press release announcing the decision to hold town hall meetings, Estey said he wants to have an informal, open dialogue with producers.

“Farmers are major stakeholders in the grain handling and transportation system,” he said. “I welcome their opinions and ideas on what they feel needs to happen to make it a more efficient and effective system.”

About the author

Adrian Ewins

Saskatoon newsroom

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