GRAIN COMMISSION EMPLOYEES DEFEND FARMERS

SWIFT CURRENT, Sask.-"CGC inspectors see themselves as the watchdog for farmers. They are the front line in Canada's quality assurance system, charged with implementing the Canadian Grain Act. Many of these inspectors are concerned by cuts proposed in the CGC's Program Review. If the employees with the most intimate knowledge of the inspection system are worried, then we farmers should be worried," says Stewart Wells, NFU Coordinator for Saskatchewan. The CGC's Program Review was released in January and proposes cuts to inward inspection and other CGC services.

"CGC inspectors and employees are raising concerns and tipping off farmers to potential flaws in the CGC Review," said Wells. These inspectors cannot be named for fear of job action.

The Canadian Grain Act states that "the Commission shall in the interest of the grain producers, establish and maintain standards of quality for Canadian grain..." Wells stated: "Commission employees take their responsibility to protect farmers very seriously. Farmers now need to recognize the valuable contributions that employees are making to the Review process."

CGC inspectors are saying that they are "dismayed, shocked and angry with the Canadian Grain Commission's proposal to centralize the grading of inward carlots off-site at the port locations. The impact of going down this road to deregulation is the potential loss of Canada's reputation and market shares as a reliable supplier of consistently high quality grain."

Grain Commission employees illustrate their concerns by highlighting an earlier centralized grading pilot project that didn't work. Current CGC management says that "At that time, we tried a pilot project for one elevator and the pilot didn't work. The proposal now is for all elevators so centralized inspection will be workable." Wells commented: "Implementing centralized grading on a system-wide basis when it is known to have failed in trial conditions simply defies logic."

"Farmers have not asked for deregulation of grain inspection. The only interests served by such deregulation are those of grain companies and their industry shills. Farmers need to stand up now and tell Minister of Agriculture Lyle Vanclief that we don't want our CGC protection destroyed by industry lobbyists,"" concluded Wells.

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