CALGARY, AB: The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association supports proposed legislative changes under Bill C-48, which would see improvements in the way the Canadian grain industry is regulated.

“There are some elements of the Bill that we wish to see improved, but overall this is a good package of amendments,” says Levi Wood, President of the Wheat Growers.

The Wheat Growers support the proposal to introduce a Producer Compensation Fund to compensate farmers in the case of the business failure of a licensed grain buyer, if such a Fund will lower costs to prairie farmers and provide greater payment security than the existing bonding provisions. The Wheat Growers note that such a model has been in place for a number of years in Ontario.

Other positive measures in the Bill include:

• Extending the right for a producer to seek binding determination of grade and dockage on deliveries to processing facilities (including flour mills, maltsters and crushing plants), grain dealers and container-loading facilities.
• Allowing for the imposition of fines for anyone who misrepresents their grain.
• Establishment of a Review Panel where farmers and others can appeal any rulings made by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC).

 
The Bill also proposes to introduce mandatory CGC inspection on all offshore container shipments. The Wheat Growers maintain that CGC inspection on offshore shipments should be made optional, and only be required in those instances where the buyer and seller agree that this would add value.

“The Wheat Growers are pleased to see the introduction of this legislation and look forward to the opportunity to strengthen the Bill in a way that will meet the needs of farmers and our customers in an effective and cost-efficient manner,” says Wood.

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