AG ACT CHANGES
Now that harvest is over, farmers and consumers should pay close attention to the ramifications of the Canada European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, referred to as CETA.
Bill C-18 changes nine agricultural acts. It adds measures to permit “incorporation by reference” of third party documents in seven acts, allowing government to use foreign studies when making regulatory decisions under those acts, and amends the Plant Breeders Rights Act to comply with International Union of Protection of New Varieties (UPOV’91).
UPOV 91 is all about giving more power to multinational corporations.
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Bill C-18 will shift decision making about the safety and the quality of our food, feed, fertilizers and seed into corporate boardrooms instead of through a publicly accountable process where it can be discussed openly by Canadians.
So while politicians, like MP Leon Benoit, state that Bill C-18 will strengthen farmers’ ability to save seed, the reverse is actually true.
Benoit is being less than truthful, or he does not understand the greed of large corporations like Monsanto, Syngenta and others, to control or dominate the world food supply.
During the spring 2014 meeting of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the delegates put forward a resolution that passed by an overwhelming majority in opposition to Bill C-18 and UPOV 91.
However, SARM did not lobby the provincial government, as directed by the delegates, in opposition to Bill C-18. Rather SARM circulated a letter from the provincial government promoting UPOV 91 and Bill C-18 to all reeves, councillors and administrators of RMs in the province.
SARM is obviously in the back pocket of the provincial government and is not following directives from SARM’s farmer delegates. Tim McMillan, the Lloydminster MLA, did nothing to stick up for farmers.
Federal minister of agriculture Gerry Ritz (WP Oct. 16) states that “a farmer does not need to seek permission from the rights holder to store farm-saved seeds for replanting in future years”.
I do not trust Ritz, as he also promised farmers a vote on the removal of the single desk monopoly on wheat and barley sales held by the Canadian Wheat Board.
Ritz removed this monopoly without a vote and is now trying to bury the CWB as if it were a dead skunk. He even refuses to publish an annual financial statement of the CWB.
Farmers of North America are trying to raise money from investors to purchase the remnants of the CWB.
When checking the online registries of companies, Farmers of North America is a sole proprietorship owned by one man.
Farmers have to ask if the powerful options in UPOV 91 and Bill C-18, such as charging farmers a royalty on both patent seed purchases and an end royalty on crops grown, will not be used.
Companies will even have the ability to seize farmers’ production and equipment before a case of infringement goes to court.
Why not remove these unfair and unjust powers from the legislation? Trust me — if legislation permits certain powers, they will eventually be implemented.
And once something is implemented, it is difficult to remove, and farmers will no doubt bear the brunt of more power, lobbying influence and the greed of large multinational corporations.
These corporations have a primary purpose, and it is profit at whatever and whoever’s expense.
It is imperative that farmers talk to the politician they elected and tell them what is happening on the farm: drastically lower grain prices, rising operating expenses, narrowing margins and record debt loads.
Let the politicians know that farmers oppose many aspects of UPOV 91 and Bill C-18, and SARM delegates voted in opposition, but the farmers’ votes are not being considered on this irreversible shift of power to the multinationals.
Farmers, it is time to take action before it is too late.
Paul Anka, the musician, once said, “Love your country, but do not trust those who run it.”
John Vinek,
Lloydminster, Sask.
WARINESS REQUIRED
Give me a break. When Canada’s federal agriculture minister, Mr. Gerry Ritz, stands before a House of Commons agricultural committee and states that the omnibus Bill C-18, which ratifies an international seed treaty UPOV 91, “does allow farm producers the right to store and use farm saved seed,” everyone including the committee should be wary.
I believe the treaty, UPOV 91 goes far beyond the importance of use of stored farmer used seeds. This is more about future profitability by multinational corporations on one of the world’s basic commodities — food. It could very well restrict a basic necessity to those most vulnerable. I think any government that even considers such a situation should be suspect. It would be sinister and perhaps a crime to humanity if it were to happen.
The destruction of the Canadian Wheat Board, changes to AgriStability, and the changes to the Canadian Grain Commission all were changed without proper investigation, disclosure, discussion, collaboration and consensus.
All decisions made were based on ideology of the (Reform) Conservative Party. Against their own anti-bullying legislation, Ritz bullies his ideals against agricultural producers’ welfare.
Maurice Parrent,
Cyde, Alta.
GOOD INFLUENCE
We find your article (“Brahman bred way up north, WP Oct. 23) quite good, except Michael Latimer’s comment about Brahman meat quality.
In reply to his comment, we offer the following.
Some people radicalize that Brahman genetics lower beef. Nothing can be further from the truth.
A group of cattlemen, in the late 1990s, designed a contest to recognize the optimum feeder steer. The contest was industry wide and in-cluded all beef breeds. Steers were rated on feedlot performance, carcass quality and net return.
Imagine the surprise when the contest was won by a Brahman-cross steer. Not only that, four of the top five were Brahman-crosses.
Australia’s top chefs have proclaimed Brahman influenced beef as the best in taste and quality of all beef breeds.
A cholesterol study is also underway that is examining the possibility that the fat in beef produced by Brahman influenced cattle is more “heart friendly” than the fat in beef produced by other breeds.
Brahman influenced cattle produce tender, lean and tasty beef.
David Andrews,
GREAT IDEA AGAIN
Regarding the front page article “FNA reveals plans to buy control of CWB” (WP Oct. 9).
What a great, super, fantastic idea. Never heard of farmers getting into the grain marketing and farm supply business in my lifetime.
Whoa. Let us back this freight train up about a century and 10 percent ago.
Do like I did; I checked my history books. Farmers 110 years ago began working to set up a farmers’ owned grain company. That was the Grain Growers, later called the United Grain Growers. Then followed the three prairie pools.
We farmers had four grain companies with feet in the grain marketing world. A number of generations of farmers later, about one century, we suddenly find ourselves with déjà vu all over again.
Farmers as a group having an organization like that for whatever reason just simply has a problem keeping that foot in the grain marketing and farm supply doors.
Once we were there we should have stayed there. Financially, we cannot keep doing this. In, out and in again. Once in, stay in.
With the four farmer-owned companies I found I got some extra money for my grains. Or perhaps a better grade, which equals more money.
FNA has a great idea. I hope it works out, positively. The problem will come again in a few generations from now.
Delwyn Jansen,
Humboldt, Sask
