(file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Canadian Canola

MP wants action on canola trade dispute

Mar 14, 2019 | 4:22 PM

The Member of Parliament for Prince Albert is frustrated with the lack of progress to resolve a trade issue with China.

The canola export license of one of Canada’s largest grain companies Richardson International was revoked last week. China stated it was due to disease concerns.

Randy Hoback said when the news broke, opposition members wanted action. A request was sent through the House agriculture committee. When that was rejected another request was made through the House international trade committee.

An emergency meeting is scheduled for March 17 to discuss bringing back the committee to talk to the federal ministers of agriculture, foreign affairs and trade to get an understanding of how the crisis with China is being handled.

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Hoback said the process has been frustrating.

“We started this last week. I understand we had a two-week break and people have plans but a lot of farmers are trying to make decisions on what they’re going to plant this year plus we have road bans around the corner,” he said. “Canola is a major crop in Western Canada. It is the cash crop. We need to have an understanding of what the game plan is going forward. If that means bringing back a committee while we’re on our riding week break then that’s exactly what we should be doing,”

Hoback said adding to the disappointment was the delay in cooperation from the NDP and Liberal chair of the committee.

“I hope the Liberal members of the committee will see this is the right thing to do and put politics aside and actually allow us to bring the ministers forward,” Hoback said. “Then we can help them construct a plan that will have benefits for the farmers in Western Canada.”

Canada still hasn’t seen the evidence China used to block canola shipments. Hoback said there is no question in his mind that this is a retaliatory issue.

“What concerns me is this could possibly be spreading to barley and peas and if it does it’s a major issue for malt barley producers and it creates a lot of challenges for the prairies.”

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF