With a long history in Western Canadian agriculture, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) remains an important player in providing producer protections. Their work includes providing common grain grades and procedures, assuring the quality of grain exports, and undertaking research on grain quality.
The federal government is considering who will next lead the CGC. Three Commissioners make up CGC’s leadership – the Chief Commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner and the Commissioner. These positions are appointed by the Government for a renewable term of up to seven years. The Chief Commissioner retired in January 2016, and the remaining two terms expire in 2016.
What is CGC’s leadership responsible for?
The Chief Commissioner acts as Chief Executive Officer of the Commission and its staff. They are responsible for upholding the Canada Grain Act and ensuring the Commission is performing its duties accordingly. With headquarters in downtown Winnipeg, the CGC also operates two regional offices and eight service centres; 404 people work for CGC in various capacities, including inspection, industry services, grain research and finance.
Producers are a key stakeholder of the CGC.
A core tenet of the CGC’s mandate is to work in the interest of grain producers, who largely fund the work that they do. The CGC began operating under a self-funded model in 2014, and Western Canadian farmers are now largely responsible for the operating costs of running the Commission. User fees leveraged on grain exports, which include outward inspection and weighing, are passed back to farmers through the price they receive for their grain. Ninety-one percent of the Commission costs are covered by user fees.
Therefore, farmer representation at the leadership level has never been more important.
A farmer voice at the leadership level of CGC brings a unique perspective and understanding to the table, ensures that farmer needs are represented in decision-making and understands the importance of reaching out to producer groups on relevant issues. Most importantly, a producer can work to ensure that the CGC continues to be relevant and serve the needs of today’s farmers.
The next slate of commissioners will play an integral role in shaping the future of the Commission. Striving for continuity of leadership in the 2016-2017 crop year is key for farmers. As CGC is preparing to launch user fee consultations this fall and potentially re-introduce legislation on the Canada Grain Act, a farmer voice will be key in ensuring the success of these initiatives and to ensure CGC is aligned with what is happening on farms.