Concerns raised by the National Farmers Union over proposed legislation to amend the Canada Grain Act are not shared by Grain Farmers of Ontario.
NFU concerns include the reliability of the proposed government-run, insurance-based producer payment protection system and the potential for feed mills to limit farmers' range of choice for seed varieties.
Grain Farmers of Ontario CEO Barry Senft says about 80 per cent of what Bill C-48 addresses are Western Canadian issues.
He points out the Canada Grain Act was never enacted in Eastern Canada - and this bill is proposing to withdraw even the potential of it being enacted here.
According to Senft, there are two things in the amendments that interest GFO - a proposed general purpose class for wheat and the licensing of container facilities.
He says Ontario already has a general purpose class.
And while GFO would have concerns about licensing of container facilities, Senft says they've asked the government for clarification of just what that means to get a clearer understanding of what the bill is proposing.
Generally-speaking, though, Senft says GFO does not have the concerns the NFU has about the Act.
