GGC official critical of latest federal budget

“You just have to look at the Port of Vancouver, for example, where the majority of grain that we grow in Canada goes through to get to international customers. There are major choke points there that haven’t been addressed for years.”

Larkin says there is not enough money going into research in agriculture.

“Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has been winding down or has been lacking in its investments on the research side, investments in researchers, so that’s been lagging behind.”

“On the private side, countries internationally have found ways to get these multi-national corporations to invest in their jurisdictions. Unfortunately, Canada is falling behind and we really need those investments here so that our grain farmers can remain competitive internationally.”

Larkin adds that every federal budget should a lot bigger section on agriculture.

“We know that when we are talking about building Canada’s economy, when we’re talking about building good-paying jobs, when we’re even talking about food affordability, agriculture plays a significant role in all of those different pieces.”

“Agriculture is obviously one of Canada’s predominate industries and for it only to be mentioned six times in a federal budget is quite disappointing.”

Larkin says his group is also concerned that the Canada Grains Act has not been updated as this legislation is almost 40 years old.

He says one issue is that canola was just getting going at that time.

“If a grain farmer drops off their canola at a canola processing plant, they aren’t allowed to get a second opinion from the (Canadian) Grain Commission, so whatever grade they get from the company is the grade they get. They have no recourse like they would have at a grain elevator.”

Larkin says GGC, the Canola Growers Association and Canadian Federation of Agriculture are pushing the government to do this review.

Larkin adds his group was also looking for something from the government when it comes to right to repair their machinery. He says is is getting to be more of a challenge for farmers to fix what he refers to as “computers on wheels.”

“(It is) a lot more technologically advanced and that is becoming a challenge for farmers in terms of being able to repair their own equipment. Unfortunately, the manufacturers aren’t providing farmers with the diagnostic software necessary to fix their own equipment.”

Larkin says GGC is telling government to mandate that these manufacturers provide this diagnostic information and repair manuals to farmers.

He adds with this budget, the federal government also aims “to take leadership as it relates to carbon pricing.”

Larkin says GGC has been pushing for the passage of Bill C-234, which would take the carbon tax off fuel used for grain dryers.

“We were really hoping that the government could take a leadership position here in the budget, show some relief for farmers but, unfortunately, we didn’t see that, and farmers are still going to be unfairly penalized for the use of propane and natural gas when no viable alternatives exist on the market.”

Larkin says Bill C-234 “remains stuck” in the House of Commons. He says the bill still has the support of the NDP and Conservatives, but the Bloc Quebecois now supports an amended version that includes a three year sunset clause, rather than an eight year one. The amended version also excludes buildings like barns and greenhouses.

Larkin adds it is getting close to the time where they may have to take what they can get and accept the three year version if that is all the House of Commons can provide.

by Curtis Galbraith

GGC official critical of latest federal budget

Pro Tips