Winnipeg, MB and Ottawa, ON -- Grain and oilseed farmers are pleased to see the Government of Canada is moving forward with progressive changes that will update the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) and the Canada Grain Act.
The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) and the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) are pleased to see that the Government of Canada has taken a step forward in modernizing the CGC, as highlighted by legislation that was tabled in the House of Commons on October 18, 2012. One of the necessary changes included in this bill, is removing the mandatory requirement for the CGC to conduct inward weighing and inspection. Another important change is increased flexibility for security requirements. The proposed legislation allows different types of security to be used, rather than the single option of bonding, which is currently found in the Act.
"Under the current system, we see duplication of services with grain company staff and grain commission inspectors both inspecting the same tens of thousands of railcars every year,” says Richard Phillips, Executive Director of GGC. “This change will certainly reduce unnecessary overlap. The Grain Growers have always pushed hard to reduce red tape and regulatory burdens for our grain sector and so we fully support this change.”
GGC and CCGA have repeatedly and consistently called on the government to make more substantial changes to the CGC prior to the implementation of cost recovery fees next fall.
“Changes to mandatory weighing and inspection by the CGC, will help to reduce the CGC’s operating costs, which ultimately will be paid for by farmers when the CGC moves to a cost recovery model in 2013,” says Rick White, General Manager of the CCGA. “While this is a good first step in updating an organization that has not seen any significant changes in over twenty-five years, more substantial changes are imperative. Farmers will ultimately be paying the bill for the CGC so it is important that the institution is lean, efficient and effective.”
The Canadian Canola Growers Association represents more than 43,000 canola farmers on national and international issues that impact farm profitability. www.ccga.ca The Grain Growers of Canada is an umbrella organization with 14 provincial and regional grower groups from across the country involved in the grain, pulse and oilseed sectors and is well known as the national voice of Canadian grain farmers. www.graingrowers.ca
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Contact:
Canadian Canola Growers Association
Kelly Green, Director of Communications
Phone: 204.789.8821
E-mail: kellyg@ccga.ca
Grain Growers of Canada
Janet Krayden, Public Affairs Manager
Phone: 613-233-9954
E-mail: office@ggc-pgc.ca