Why OCPA Welcomes the Grain Growers of Canada
The Ontario Corn Producers’ Association (OCPA) is delighted with
the creation of the Grain Growers of Canada at a meeting in Calgary in late June. Here’s why:
The OCPA has found success during its 17-year history in working cooperatively through alliances with other Ontario
farm groups to meet common objectives. This has been especially true when it comes to issues affecting grain and
oilseed producers.
But at the federal level, it’s been a much different story. Unlike most other Canadian farm commodities sectors,
there has been no national voice for grain and oilseed producers. There has not even been a good process for producers
of these crops to communicate across Canada. And grain and oilseed farmers have paid the price.
It’s true that there are national general farm organizations which sometimes speak on national grain and oilseed
issues. But these organizations are not well structured for dealing with sector-specific issues, and linkages/consultations
with provincial grain producers or grassroots grain producing groups are often limited.
At one time, the Canada Grains Council (CGC) was a good vehicle for national communication. And with the restructuring
now in place for this organization, it may again fill this role, by organizing major national events where members
of the Canadian grain industry can meet to talk and discuss national grain and oilseed issues. OCPA supports this
rebirth. But the CGC is not a producer organization. Most members of the CGC come from grain-related businesses
and organizations. The CGC is not a substitute for a national coalition of grain producing groups.
One solution might have been to form a national corn producers’ organization. Indeed, good communication does occur
now among corn producing organizations in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. But the national policies and issues which
affect corn growers are generally the same as those which concern producers of other grains, oilseeds, pulse crops
and other major field crops. A national organization involving all of these groups is far superior to one for corn
alone.
An attempt was made about 10 years ago to form a national grains and oilseed group, and for a brief period of about
one year, it was somewhat effective in highlighting issues of common concern to grain and oilseed producers across
Canada. But the organization lacked structure, financing, and staff support, and did not persist. The strongest
push for this organization came from Ontario, and this, coupled with a preoccupation of Prairie grain groups with
issues which were largely regional at the time (e.g., the Western Grain Transportation Act and Prairie grain marketing),
may also have contributed to the demise of that affiliation in its infancy.
There are several reasons why the Grain Growers of Canada represents a vast improvement over its predecessor of
a decade earlier.
First, the initiative has come this time from Western Canada, and notably the Western Prairies. OCPA expresses
special appreciation to the Alberta Barley Commission (ABC - an organization very similar in structure, mandate
and function to OCPA) for its leadership, and also to several other Western grain and oilseed groups for their
early support.
Second, the organization has been designed from the beginning with the recognition that it costs money to do things,
and that there has to be a national office with at least one person on staff. The annual membership fees range
from $1,000 to $20,000, depending on the gross financial income for each member organization. For OCPA this means
$20,000 per year, and it’s the same for the Alberta Barley Commission and the Ontario Soybean Growers (OSG). While
the initial office will be with the ABC in Calgary, the goal is to establish a national base in Ottawa as quickly
as possible - recognizing that the centre for discussion on most national issues concerning Canadian grain and
oilseed producers is in the national capital.
Third, the organization begins with a solid national base, with initial members coming from Atlantic Canada, Ontario
and the Prairie Provinces, and involving all of the five major Canadian grains - wheat, barley, canola, corn and
soybeans. Membership is under active consideration by groups in Quebec and British Columbia as well as by other
groups in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
And fourth, the founding meetings have been driven by a desire to have an organization based on core principles
- especially the need for an industry which is market driven and internationally competitive - but which also recognizes
the legitimate and sometimes divergent goals and interests of groups from different regions of Canada, or which
represent different commodities.
This goodwill and understanding - and the desire to form a structure based on good communication, cooperation and
trust - are critical to what lies ahead.
As of mid 2000, the organization has only a core membership - OCPA, ABC, OSG, the Atlantic Grains Council, the
Western Canadian Wheat Growers’ Association, the Saskatchewan Canola Growers’ Association and the Alberta Winter
Wheat Producers’ Commission - but others are expected to join before the first major members’ meeting and policy
conference in Ottawa in November. Indeed, the initial policy meeting will be open to all grain, oilseed, pulse,
and specialty crop producer organizations, and hopefully others will agree to join thereafter.
The organization has yet to adopt any policy positions. These will come only after ample opportunity for discussion,
to ensure that new policies adequately represent the consensus view of members in all regions.
But what has been accomplished with the creation of the Grain Growers of Canada is the foundation needed to fill
a void which has existed for most of the past century. OCPA welcomes this addition.
Congratulations also to Brian Kriz, of Rimby (near Red Deer), Alberta, Anna Bragg of Bowmanville, Ontario (also
OCPA president), and Tim Harvie, of Cochrane, Alberta, who are the respective interim chair, vice-chair and other
executive member of the Grain Growers of Canada. Thanks also to Cliff Foster, staff of the ABC, who now serves
as interim executive director.
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