Consultations have been done, and the “What we heard” document was published in 2021. So why then has the actual opening of the Grain Act — and modernization of it — not happened?
On Tuesday, March 26, industry participants, government, and farmers are getting together to talk about exactly that, says Ian Boxall, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, at the Grain Act Review Summit.
Regardless of when the actual Grain Act review happens, Boxall says that there are some issue that can be addressed now. Of particular importance to APAS is the topic of outward inspection by the CGC, a key part of Canada’s grain industry’s global reputation. At issue is the cost of the inspections, the role of the CGC, and funding of the inspections.
“Canadian grains are sought after… What does it look like to modernize the outward inspections?” Boxall says, adding that the quality standard that Canada has set has to be maintained.
Boxall says that he’s hoping attendees at the summit can reach some consensus on what changes should be prioritized ahead of a new chief commissioner being appointed to the Canadian Grain Commission following Doug Chorney’s retirement next month.
Related: Chorney will retire from the CGC at the end of April
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