The man at the helm of grain transportation reform said groups involved in the process are entitled to use hired guns if they choose to.
“I don’t see anything wrong with it,” said Arthur Kroeger.
He said it is the participants’ privilege to bring out additional studies and opinions to help their work on reform.
While he is not averse to discussing studies and reports presented by participants or their consultants, some groups such as the National Farmers Union are concerned about having a proper balance in points of view, he said.
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A spokesperson for the NFU was not available for comment.
Kroeger said the groups can’t spend too much time on outside presentations or studies because they need to discuss and develop complex solutions to detailed issues.
The chair of the Prairie Farm Commodity Coalition said he’s getting worried presentations and studies done by participants are using up time better spent figuring out how to implement reform.
“This is becoming one of the biggest philosophical battles we’ve seen in a while,” said Greg Rockafellow.
Delay implementation
He is concerned groups trying to avoid reform are dragging out the process, which is supposed to be complete by the end of August.
Rockafellow said he wishes participants would have taken Kroeger up on an offer of obtaining outside expertise when required.
Rockafellow said the PFCC hasn’t hired outside help, although group members have discussed some issues with people who have expertise in transportation.
The group is fortunate to have the help of Paul Earl, he said, a transportation expert who works for the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association.
Rockafellow questioned why KAP would want or need to hire an adviser.
“Sometimes, when you get into these things, you quit acting like a farmer,” he said, adding Machej’s advice may come with a wheat board slant.
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities hasn’t hired outside help yet, said president Sinclair Harrison. But it hasn’t ruled it out.
Harrison said SARM is worried about being pressed for time when another group looking at the impact of reform on roads gets rolling in July.
Harrison noted railroads and grain companies are well-financed and can hire expertise, so farm groups like KAP and SARM should be able to hire help too.
