Letter To Minister Lawrence MacAulay Re: CGC User Fees

Feb 07, 2017

From the Grain Growers of Canada website

http://www.ggc-pgc.ca/docs/2017-02-06%20-%20MacAulay%20Grain%20Commission%20fees_1.pdf

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
1341 Baseline Road Tower 7, NHCAP, Floor 9, Room 149
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C5

Re: Canadian Grain Commission User Fees

Dear Minister MacAulay:

On behalf of the Grain Growers of Canada, I am writing to request that you reduce the outward weighing and inspection fees charged by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) effective immediately. These fees, which amount to approximately $1.80 per tonne, combined with record crop sizes have led to a significant surplus at the CGC in the order of $100 million.

Continuing to charge $1.80 per tonne and waiting for a user fee review will significantly increase the surplus amount and perpetuate the charging of unnecessary costs to farmers.

We are very pleased with the appointment of Patti Miller as Chief Commissioner as well as the recent announcement that Messrs. Chorney and McKague will join Ms. Miller as commissioners. We also understand that a review encompassing new user fees for the period 2018-2023 is expected to commence shortly after they come on board. These consultations will be very important to industry stakeholders, but will not come in time for the remainder of the 2016-2017 and the 2017-2018 crop years.

It is therefore important that user fees be reduced as soon as possible. This will send a strong signal to farmers that their concerns have been heard, will prevent further surplus accumulation and will set the stage for fulsome consultations during the forthcoming review process. We believe that you have the responsibility and the ability to make such a change through the User Fee Act and that the fee could be dropped significantly and still cover costs to the Commission for outward inspection.

Thank you for consideration of this very important matter. We believe that addressing grain farmers concerns by reducing user fees immediately is a win-win solution for all involved and we look forward to your reply. If we can be of assistance or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 613-233-9954 or president@ggc-pgc.ca.

Sincerely,

Jeff Nielsen
GGC President

Source : Grain Growers of Canada

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