(Twitter/@BoxallIan)

By Alice McFarlane

Canadian Canola

Ministers hear concerns over loss of Chinese market

Mar 29, 2019 | 3:48 PM

Several groups met with the federal ministers of agriculture and trade today in Saskatoon to talk about China’s decision to stop buying Canadian canola.

Representatives from SaskCanola, the Canola Council of Canada, the crushing industry, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) and Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities held a roundtable discussion for an hour this morning with Marie-Claude Bibeau and Jim Carr.

APAS Vice President and Tisdale area farmer Ian Boxall said all groups shared the same message that the trade dispute with China needs to be rectified quickly.

Boxall said the ministers were receptive to making changes to AgriStability and the Cash Advance program.

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“I got some assurances that they are looking within current programming how they can ensure farmers will be covered if this happens to be a long, played out crisis in the canola sector,” Boxall said. “We have to remember that these programs have to fall within the WTO standards. They were absolutely in favour of enhancing the current programs we have for risk management in Canada.”

Some of the discussion was whether on an overseas trip is being planned to have a dialogue face to face with Chinese officials.

“When you get there you have to have someone who is willing to listen. My sense is, currently, that conversation is in the works but they aren’t to a place to sit down and have an honest conversation about the science behind what China has said is wrong with our canola.” Boxall said.

Boxall said the ministers recognize the seriousness of the issue.

“They absolutely understand that producers are feeling the pinch of this. They want to ensure producer confidence in the sector and they are also going to continue dialogue with the Chinese officials to ensure we get this rectified,” Boxall said. “There was no timeline on that and I have a sense that there will be some programming changes made to ensure that producers are covered.”

Separate meetings were held with the grains, wheat, pulse and special crops sector and representatives from the provincial government.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF