OCPA Going Forward
by Doug Eadie, OCPA President

It is often said, to know where you are going, look at where you have been. This applies to organizations like the Ontario Corn Producers’ Association (OCPA). About twenty three years ago, a concerned group of corn producers in Ontario started a process that resulted in the formation of an organization to represent grain corn producers in this province. Prior to this point in 1983, corn producers had no official body to represent them in areas such as safety nets, research and market development to name a few. I can still remember receiving what was then called an Ontario corn stabilization payment, which happened within a year of OCPA's existence. Also, corn producers had no financial protection plan in case of grain dealer insolvency and a substantial amount of the check-off went into building this
fund. Currently, the fund is in a position which basically carries itself.

Perhaps the one single act, that really showed this organization would push the envelope, was when a successful countervail trade action was launched from 1986
to 1990 against unfairly subsidized imports of U.S. corn. This action proved in a legal sense that “yes” we were injured by unfairly subsidized U.S. corn imports. Trade
actions themselves are never the final solution and it is no coincidence that, after this five year period, the Federal Government of Canada brought in the Gross Revenue
Income Protection (GRIP) program nationally and the trade action was dropped. GRIP of course was replaced by what we knew as Market Revenue Insurance (MRI) in Ontario. Combining GRIP with the Net Income Stabilization Act (NISA) and some other bits of ad hoc payments, we actually were close to being on a level playing field around the years of 2000 to 2002. We, and other grain and oilseed groups, asked for changes to the programs, especially NISA, to make them more efficient, timely and accessible. Rather than make any changes to these programs, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada developed and shoved CAIS down our throats.
Consultation was not allowed and now, especially in grains and oilseeds, we as producers are bearing the fallout of this disastrous program.

The successes we have achieved in coalition building in areas such as safety nets, research, environment and market development never cease to amaze me. We think most producers would agree. Successes start with elections of responsible delegates and directors who formulate policy. That policy is then enacted by, in our case, a dedicated and diligent staff of whom we are most appreciative. We, of course, are going to miss Brian Doidge. Brian provided leadership and expertise not only for corn producers, but for all of Ontario grains and oilseeds producers. He helped us to challenge the status quo and focus on what was of true value to producers. Brian would be the first to tell everyone that life goes on and so we will.

Now OCPA must look ahead. The outcome of our recent trade action along with Quebec and Manitoba corn producers shows all of us grain and oilseed producers in
Canada exactly where we are at. It has shown that the Federal government (both previous and present) has no appetite to challenge the U.S. on trade. What is most
frustrating and demoralizing has been the constant nattering from bureaucrats and politicians that our salvation lies within a successful agreement on reducing subsidies and tariffs. The WTO talks have failed once again and even if “successful” would have only meant countries like the U.S. shifting subsidies from one box to another. Provincially, a producer panel struck by the Grains and Oilseeds Safety Nets Working Group came up with the Risk Management Program over a year ago, only to see it sabotaged by provincial - federal wrangling and fear by some outside of grains and oilseeds that it might be countervailable. OCPA will, as a part of the Grains and Oilseeds Safety Net Working group, keep as its top priority, a fair and equitable program for grain and oilseed producers.

Seeing the amalgamation process of the three major Ontario commodity groups is not only a priority, but in my opinion, vital. These producer groups can no longer afford not to. We have a proven ability in working together and the possibilities are endless. The challenge lies first with you, the producer to make this work. Simply put, this is not change for the sake of making change but critical for our sector going forward.

We all look forward to the day when we can spend our time and resources on new innovations in areas of utilization and marketing of the products we grow. But until there is a fundamental change in provincial and federal agricultural policy recognizing that our sector is the economic driver for the industrial and livestock sectors and must operate on a level playing field, we are going nowhere. The onus, then, will be on the producers to deliver.

Knowing where you've been is easy. Getting to where we have to go will be the tough part. But to quote one of Winston Churchill’s shorter and last speeches, "Never, never, never, ever, ever, ever, give up."