The Western Canadian Wheat Growers have made their submission to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s review of the Pest Control Products Act. Canada’s pesticide regulatory system is one of the most robust science-based regulatory systems in the world. Reviews of our regulatory systems should be done on a regular basis to ensure that the systems remain current and strong.

On August 4, 2021, the federal government paused a decision that put the science-based decision-making process on food security in jeopardy through political interference.

“We believe the Pest Control Products Act is fit for purpose and that added improvements and regulatory modernization can be achieved via updated guidance documents and internal policy implementation”

stated Gunter Jochum, President.

“We would support PMRA Program renewal with more transparent decision-making, more predictable risk assessment and the ability to bring in data earlier rather than modelling worst case scenarios. Science-based decisions must be the final recommendations, and not interfered with by politicians or bureaucrats”

continued Jim Wickett, Secretary-Treasurer.

“The establishment of independent external advisors to essentially oversee the work of the PMRA is foolhardy at best and dangerous at worst. Such proposed changes could have a dramatic impact over how pesticides will be reviewed and administered in Canada over a long period of time”

closed Daryl Fransoo, Chair.

Source: Western Canadian Wheat Growers

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On August 20, 2021, the following questions were sent to each party. As of September 14, 2021, we heard back from four parties. Should other parties submit their answers, we will update the survey.

The six policy questions are:

1. As the next federal government, what would your top priorities be for farmers and the agriculture industry across the prairies?
2. International trade is a key factor for prairie farmers. What is your party’s position on free and competitive markets, including the elimination of export subsidies, the reduction of trade-distorting domestic support and reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers that inhibit foreign market access?
3. Will your party support the reporting of daily / weekly grain and oilseed export sales?
4. Moving grain and oilseeds to market is vital for the entire food supply chain. Farmers depend on a modern transportation infrastructure to move seed and fertilizer as well as the export of grain. What are your party’s position on the grain transportation system and the ability to maintain an accountable and efficient system considering possible future overcrowding on the rail system? How will your party support rural infrastructure investment?
5. The current regulatory process for the approval of agricultural innovations that make farmers more profitable and sustainable is slow and burdensome. What will your party do to expedite a science-based regulatory approval process for the introduction of new technologies, including the adoption of genetically modified crops?
6. The current government has called for a 30% reduction in fertilizer emissions. Currently, there is no plan of how to achieve this, without a 30% reduction in the use of fertilizer. What will your government do with this proposal?

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The six questions are:

As the next leader of the CPC, what would your top priorities be for farmers and the agriculture industry across the prairies?

What is your position on free and competitive markets in international trade, including the elimination of export subsidies, reduction of trade-distorting domestic support, and reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers that inhibit market access?

What is your position on a carbon pricing system, including a credit and debit system that acknowledges the significant carbon reductions being achieved by prairie grain farmers through modern farming techniques and carbon sequestering?

Farmers depend on road and rail infrastructure to bring in inputs (seed and fertilizer) and export grain. What is your position on the grain transportation system and the ability to maintain an accountable and efficient system considering possible future overcrowding on the rail system? How will you support rural infrastructure investment?

What is your position on the development of agricultural innovations that make farmers more profitable and sustainable, with a science-based regulatory approval process for the introduction of new technologies, including the adoption of genetically modified crops?

Modern agriculture depends upon technology for market info, equipment software updates, timely communication, and the ability to reduce our carbon emissions. How will you ensure that improved cellular and broadband technology will be available to rural areas?

The responses are available here.

Source: Western Canadian Wheat Growers

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“I am honoured to have the support of the Board of Directors to move into the role of Chair. The Wheat Growers have been advocates of strong agricultural policy for 50 years and the future looks strong for us,”

said Daryl Fransoo, Chair.

Fransoo farms with his father near Glaslyn, Saskatchewan, where he produces spring and soft white wheat, malt barley, canola, multiple varieties of peas and lentils, and oats. His family also owned and operated a pulse processing and exporting business in Saskatchewan.

“I would like to thank outgoing Chair, Jim Wickett for his years of service to the Wheat Growers as Chair. I’m pleased that Jim is remaining on the Board to share his experience, insights and expertise with us. He remains a valuable source of information to the Board and myself,”

closed Fransoo.

Source: Western Canadian Wheat Growers

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Gunter Jochum, President, said:

“The Canadian economy is facing a serious challenge. Adding a 50% increase in the carbon tax is a further hit to grain farmers’ bottom line and Canadian consumers’ food bills. Now is not the time to be to be adding to our household expenses. Our focus should be on the health and economic well-being of all Canadians.”

Carbon taxes start long before the farm gate and continue to add up all the way to port. Transportation, machinery manufacturers, input suppliers all add to the carbon tax cost and the farmer must fully bear it. Farmers, processors and truckers are working long and hard to ensure our food security, our government should not be adding to this burden.

“Rather than increasing the costs for consumers, the government should be doing everything necessary to ensure our transportation system stays operational. From our trucking system to rail and ports, we need to keep our grain moving both domestically and for export,”

stated Daryl Fransoo, Saskatchewan Director.

Source: Western Canadian Wheat Growers

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It is estimated that Canada needs approximately 60,000 foreign workers for the agriculture sector, over 1,400 specifically for oilseed and grain farming. Most of the TFWs hired for grain farming bring expertise and experience which has been in short supply in rural areas.

said Kenton Possberg, Saskatchewan Director:

“All the same self-isolation measures should continue to be in place for any TFW coming into the country, similar to any Canadian that is returning to Canada. The challenge is that many remote grain farms cannot operate without Temporary Foreign Workers as a part of their crew. The importance of our food value chain cannot be under-estimated for both our domestic or international markets.”

Seeding season is just around the corner and cannot be delayed. It is imperative that the federal government address this issue immediately.

“The Western Canadian Wheat Growers calls upon the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to bring this issue before the COVID-19 Emergency Response Cabinet Committee,”

closed Possberg.

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“Our global markets depend on the timely shipping of our products. It is imperative that we are able to meet our contractual obligations,” said Gunter Jochum, President.

The loss of two weeks of shipping time cannot be made up and it will take time to fill the backlog of cargo ships that are waiting in Vancouver. CN Rail needs to use all available rolling stock and personnel to maximize the movement of grain. Farmers do not receive payment for their crop until the shipment is complete. Bills need to be paid and it has already been a long harvest.

“While we’re grateful that the parties have come to an agreement, the Federal Government needs to take steps to ensure that grain farmers are not held ransom in the future. Rail service should be deemed an essential service” closed Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, Saskatchewan Director.

Source: Western Canadian Wheat Growers

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“When farmer’s grain doesn’t move to market, farmers don’t get paid. After this year’s difficult harvest, the last thing we need is a work stoppage that halts the movement of grain on the CN lines,” said Gunter Jochum, President.

Farmers are dependent upon the duopoly rail system in Canada. When CN and/or CP rail goes on strike, we don’t have an alternate transportation option. Grain farmers need the rail lines to maintain their shipping capacity in order to remain competitive globally.

When the rail lines fail to meet the ongoing capacity needs for grain movement, the government should entertain private options that minimizes the chance of this type of action happening in the future.

Further reducing rail capacity through the mothballing of equipment makes it harder to ramp up after a shut down like this or a serious weather event.

Increased inter-switching and joint running rights are seen as a mechanism to increase the competitive options including the movement of grain south, avoiding the strike actions that regularly plague the west coast.

“The federal government needs to be very clear with CN and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference – the Canadian economy cannot afford any further slowdowns or disruptions. Work out an agreement or the federal government will impose a settlement,” closed Jochum.

Source: Western Canadian Wheat Growers

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