March 13, 2008
News release
Reject Hermanson's appointment to Grain Commission
Ottawa – The Commons Agriculture Committee should reject Elwin Hermanson's appointment as Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission because he is unfit for the job, according to the Agriculture Union – PSAC. The appointment will be considered by the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food this morning.
Mr. Hermanson has already come out strongly in favour of proposed legislation – Bill C-39 – that would gut the services and regulatory oversight activities of the Grain Commission, even before the bill has been debated in Parliament.
In an opinion article published February 7th in The Western Producer, Mr. Hermanson declares: “As chief commissioner of the CGC, I strongly support this legislation...”
“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.
The Agriculture Union has filed a formal complaint calling on the Public Service Commission to use its authority under the Public Service Employment Act to sanction Hermanson for inappropriate partisan behaviour, including recommending his dismissal.
Mr. Hermanson's opinion article was published weeks after Grain Commission employees were threatened by their employer with disciplinary action if they spoke out against Bill C-39.
On December 21st, the Canadian Grain Commission issued a memo to employees forbidding them to publicly criticize Bill C-39, which reads, in part:
“For example, if you identify yourself as a CGC employee in a letter to the editor that criticizes government policy relating to the CGC, you could create a perception that your views of government policy are not impartial and that you may not be able to follow or apply government policy in an impartial manner...We would like to remind you that inappropriate behaviour by employees on web sites, blogs, and public fora (newspapers and meetings etc.) could result in administrative and/or disciplinary action.”
“Mr. Hermanson has set a new low for double standards that clearly shows he has a personal agenda and that he can't be trusted to follow direction from Parliament – the body to which the Commission is supposed to report. Members of the Agriculture Committee should deny their blessing of Mr. Hermanson's appointment,” Kingston said.
Once an employee of Mr. Hermanson's, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz appointed the former Reform Party MP as Chief Commissioner effective January 21, 2008.
“Appointment to the public service should be made on merit, not political cronyism,” said Patty Ducharme, National Executive Vice-President of the PSAC.
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
Patty Ducharme, National Executive VP PSAC 613-560-4310
Bob Kingston, Executive VP, Agriculture Union 613-882-2607
11-130308
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Date Modified : 2008/03/13
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