February 12, 2008
News release
New Grain Commission chief tells Parliament where to go
Ottawa – Former Reform MP Elwin Hermanson who was appointed chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission only weeks ago is advocating in favour of a controversial bill that has never been endorsed by Parliament.
Hermanson authored a strongly worded opinion article in favour of amendments to the Canada Grain Act in Bill C-39 which was published in the February 7th edition of The Western Producer. Mr. Hermanson declares in his opinion article: “As chief commissioner of the CGC, I strongly support this legislation… .”
The bill would gut or kill several services and regulatory oversight activities of the Canadian Grain Commission, leaving producers newly disadvantaged in their dealings with grain companies and undermining the quality and food safety assurance programs Canada's international reputation for excellence are built upon.
C-39 has not cleared second reading debate in the Commons and many MPs report having serious reservations about it.
“Normally, senior public servants implement legislation or policy rather than telling Parliament what the law should be,” said Bob Kingston, Executive Vice-President of the Agriculture Union – PSAC, which represents most people who work at the Commission.
Kingston added: “Mr. Hermanson has set a new low for double standards given that the Commission recently threatened employees with disciplinary action if they criticize the government over the bill he is promoting.”
On December 21st, the Canadian Grain Commission issued a memo to employees forbidding them to publicly criticize Bill C-39, the government's proposal to cripple the Commission. The memo from Diane Shapiro, Director of Human Resources threatens Canadian Grain Commission employees with possible disciplinary action if they criticize the government.
Mr. Hermanson's 5 year patronage appointment to head the Canadian Grain Commission is effective January 21st. Hermanson was a Reform Party MP from 1993 to 1997 and leader of the conservative Saskatchewan Party from 1998 to 2004. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has close political ties to Mr. Hermanson, serving as his campaign manager during the 1993 election and constituency assistant thereafter.
“It seems clear Mr. Hermanson has his own agenda and it may well be different than Parliament's,” Kingston said.
The Agriculture Union – PSAC represents 9500 people who work at Agriculture Canada, the Canadian Grain Commission, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and other workplaces.
For information:
Jim Thompson 613-447-9592
Bob Kingston, Executive VP, Agriculture Union 613-882-2607
Patty Ducharme, National Executive VP PSAC 613-560-4310
04-120208
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Date Modified : 2008/02/25
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