The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association says the Canadian Grain Commission has a massive surplus, and its calling for a reduction in fees and a refund back to grain farmers.
Chair of the Wheat Growers Association Jim Wickett says the Grain Commission has a $100-million surplus and that's $100-million that didn't need to be charged.
"We're calling for, first and foremost, to reduce the fees. That's step one and that can be done quite easily by the Minister of Agriculture. And second step is we want to see that $100-million returned to farmers," says Wickett.
Manager of communications at the Grain Commission Remi Gosselin says the CGC acknowledges there is a significant accumulated surplus in the neighbourhood of $100-million, which he says is the result of higher-than-expected grain volumes and lower-than-expected spending at the Grain Commission.
He says there is certainly room to be lowering fees, and the CGC is planning to launch consultations early this year on proposed fees for 2018-2023.
Gosselin also says any leftover surplus will be used in a manner that advances the needs and interests of the grain sector and its producers. He says the CGC is examining potential options to use the accumulated surplus, and they will assess stakeholder views, including producers', on those possibilities.
