THIRTY thousand words are a lot to digest. Imagine trying to get thousands of people to read that, and seek a consensus on what impact those words will have on their businesses.
Add to the mix a 30-day deadline to consume, analyze and provide thoughtful, credible feedback to the report’s writer, Willard Estey.
That’s what farm groups are struggling with this week.
Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, the National Farmers Union, Wild Rose Agricultural Producers, Keystone Agricultural Producers and other organizations have expressed concerns about a Feb. 1 deadline for feedback to Estey’s report on grain handling and transportation, released Dec. 30.
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Estey proposed changing the role of the Canadian Wheat Board in transportation, removing the maximum rate cap on rail freight rates for grain, and ending third party allocation of rail cars. More detail is needed from Estey on how such a system would work before players in the agricultural industry, ranging from farmers to grain companies, will be willing to adopt the whole package of changes.
A great deal of resources, time and consultations went into creating the report. Without adequate time to review Estey’s proposals, the process is flawed. Critical changes are needed soon, but it is dangerous to rush an overhaul of Canada’s grain transportation system.
The voluntary membership organizations that prepared presentations for Estey before he wrote his report now need to elicit input from their members.
After a consultative process, these groups can then make presentations on behalf of the members they represent.
This doesn’t happen overnight, nor does it happen in 30 days.
For example, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool represents 70,000 members. The province is divided into 16 districts. Delegates meet once a month to discuss various issues they hear from the grassroots members they represent. The delegates funnel their members’ views upwards through the Pool.
For organizations with a smaller base of members, it does not mean the process is easier. There may be even less people and resources available to study the report and provide feedback.
An organization bears great responsibility to represent its members.
It’s not just to protect the interests and credibility of the organization: many of the elected representatives running these organizations, and their neighbors, face these transportation issues and concerns on their own farms.
While volunteer farm organizations are most challenged by the short deadline, their input is most critical in evaluating the report’s proposals.
Their grassroots members will ultimately be most affected and they need to learn more about why and how. Estey owes them the extra time to do this.
