The Canadian Grain Commission will soon be looking for a new chief grain commissioner.
Chief commissioner Patti Miller announced her intention to retire as the organization’s top executive in an internal email to CGC staff members Feb. 18.
In a Feb. 24 interview with The Western Producer, Miller said she decided to step down so she could focus on other priorities.
“I decided that it was just time to move on … to step back and retire and maybe focus on a few things in my personal life,” Miller said.
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“There’s nothing nefarious behind my decision.…
“It doesn’t have anything to do with the organization or with the challenges here. I think (the CGC) is an incredible organization. I think it does a lot to support … and serve the industry and it really has been an honour to work here.”
Miller was appointed chief commissioner at the CGC in 2017. Her six-year term was not due to expire until February 2023.
Before joining the commission, she served five years as president of the Canola Council of Canada. She also previously worked as director general of farm income programs with Agriculture Canada.
Miller has worked in the Canadian agriculture sector for the past three and a half decades, including 25 years in public service.
She said she considered herself fortunate to have worked with so many knowledgeable people who are dedicated to the Canadian agriculture industry.
“The people who are engaged in agriculture love this industry. They believe in what they’re doing and the contribution it makes to the world,” she said.
“To be part of that … I consider myself very, very lucky.”
During her three years with the grain commission, Miller has helped the organization prepare for legislative changes that could significantly alter the way it functions.
“I’ve been here for three years and in that time we’ve tackled some challenging issues,” Miller said.
“We’ve started to prepare the organization for the potential for legislative renewal. I know that will come and I think this organization is in a very good place to support that.
“We’ve also done a lot to modernize within the regulatory framework that we’ve got.…
“We’ve done grain grading modernization, wheat class modernization and we’ve got strategy developed for information technology that we’re ready … to implement. So there’s a lot of good things that have been done and I think the organization is well-positioned for legislative renewal when it does come.”
Miller’s retirement will take effect June 26.
Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said the search for a replacement will be underway soon.
She said Ottawa remains committed to modernizing Canada’s Grain Act.
In early 2019, reports from farm media organizations suggested a rift had developed between Miller and other CGC commissioners.
The CGC’s other appointed commissioners are grain farmer Doug Chorney from East Selkirk, Man., who serves as assistant chief commissioner, and Lonny McKague, a grain grower from Ogema, Sask.
Miller refuted the accuracy of the media reports, calling them offensive and unfounded.
She said her relationship with Chorney and McKague had no bearing on her decision to step down.
“Absolutely not,” Miller said.
“It’s not surprising that there would be differences of opinion, on occasion, from three very different individuals, but I have the greatest amount of respect for both Doug and Lonny.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with them. I’ve learned a lot from them and hopefully they’ve learned something from me, but I’m not leaving because of differences of opinion. I really have truly enjoyed working with those gentlemen.”
