Provincial and National Advocacy Issues
Manitoba Canola Growers are proud to represent you as part of a unified voice for canola farmers in Manitoba.
Below you will find a collection of active files that MCGA is monitoring including submissions on behalf of our membership. Our advocacy efforts are amplified through various partnerships provincially and nationally.
Your feedback is important us. If you have any questions or comments please share here: 
Government and Industry Consultations |
Background
MCGA regularly corresponds with representatives from provincial governments, industry partners and stakeholders. We work closely with multiple national farm organizations to ensure the voice of Manitoba canola farmers is heard on the issues that matter most. We show up where it counts and are committed to speaking up with informed, creative and insightful feedback to drive bold action for canola farmers.
Most recently, MCGA responded to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) consultation on the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy (SAS). MCGA’s response emphasized the importance of:
- acknowledging decades of successful sustainability improvements on-farm
- engaging with farmers as experts in agricultural production
- prioritizing the economic sustainability of farms when considering solutions
- the sustainability of farmers’ mental health
- compensation for farmers when providing ecological goods and services
- efficient, holistic, harmonized and realistic strategy utilizing real-world science-based data to develop achievable targets
MCGA response to SAS - March 2023
MCGA response to Next Policy Framework Consultation - October 2021
EngageMB MCGA Comments – August 2020
Advocacy Partner
Potential Merger Between Bunge and Viterra |
Background
Since the announcement in Summer 2023 that Bunge and Viterra were intending to merge, MCGA has been actively engaged with the Competition Bureau raising MCGA farmer members’ serious concerns about the potential merger between Bunge and Viterra, as the merger would substantially lessen competition among buyers and crushers, limiting farmer choice and potentially impacting price competitiveness. Directors have shared their concerns first-hand in interviews with the Competition Bureau, and MCGA has also forwarded investigators to multiple farm groups in Manitoba and across Canada to ensure all farmers’ concerns are heard. The Competition Bureau sought input from farmers on this merger and MCGA developed a survey of questions from the Competition Bureau to help gather members’ input. Survey responses were compiled and anonymously submitted in a report to the Bureau.
Consultation now closed.
Advocacy Partner
- Keystone Agricultural Producers
- SaskCanola
- Alberta Canola
30% Fertilizer Emission Reduction Target |
Background
Under the 2020 report, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, the Government of Canada proposed a 30% emissions reduction target for on-farm fertilizer use by the year 2030. This target is part of Canada’s commitment to contribute to the global emissions reduction targets set in the Paris Agreement, initiated in 2016. In spring 2022, a consultation period was launched on additional discussion documents that provide more detail on the government’s position and targets. MCGA staff and board have been working closely with our provincial and national sister associations to understand the detail of what the government has proposed, assess its impact on all aspects of sustainability on the farm (environmental, economic, and social), and find solutions that balance the global need to sustainably manage carbon emissions with the Canadian farmers’ need to produce canola to meet global demand and contribute to a successful farm business. In 2022, the Canola Council of Canada became a recipient of funding through the On-Farm Climate Action Fund, a program designed to support farmers in adopting beneficial management practices that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases in three areas: nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing practices. MCGA is working closely with CCC as they deliver the programming that will support farmers to adopt beneficial management practices focused on nitrogen management.
MCGA’s Stance
Farmers are experts in caring for the land and managing businesses that last for generations. MCGA clearly recognizes the critical role of fertilizer to maximize canola yield and profitability, while protecting soil health and producing high-quality, reliable and affordable crops. We continue to reiterate that any efforts to reduce fertilizer emissions can not come through a reduction of fertilizer rates that jeopardize production efficiency, quantity and quality for farmers. We also know first-hand the extraordinary efforts that Manitoba canola farmers have already taken to maximize their production efficiency and mitigate the environmental impact of farming over the long term. Further, we acknowledge the global effort to reduce carbon emissions, and the possibility that while much has already been done, more could be done to improve fertilizer efficiency and emissions reduction. MCGA continues to actively participate in the ongoing AAFC consultations and included the voice of Manitoba Canola farmers through our August 31, 2022 submission.
MCGA Response to Emission Reduction Consultation - August 31, 2022
Canola organizations raise priorities at AAFC town hall discussion on fertilizer emissions reduction
AAFC Launches Consultation on Fertilizer Emission Reduction Target
Advocacy Partner
- Canadian Canola Growers
- Canola Council of Canada
- SaskCanola
- Alberta Canola
Clean Fuel Standard |
Background
Manitoba Canola Growers have been actively working alongside Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA), Canola Council of Canada (CCC) and Canadian Oil Processors Association (COPA) to review and recommend improvements to the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) that would provide meaningful value to canola farmers in Manitoba and across Canada.
We appreciate the many months of analysis and lobbying that CCGA, CCC and COPA put into shaping the current draft of the CFS, particularly their push for aggregate measures of compliance that would use existing data sources rather than more cumbersome means to confirm compliance on-farm.
We continue to support their efforts to push forward with additional improvements that enable Canadian canola farmers to fully benefit from an expanded, stable domestic market projected to equal or exceed current annual sales to Japan.
MCGA’s Stance
MCGA has been actively supporting expansion of the biofuels market in Canada for many years, recognizing that well-written policies would support increased demand for canola. We support CCGA, CCC, and COPA’s ongoing work to continue revisions to the proposed Clean Fuels Standard in order to provide a clear benefit to Canadian canola farmers, the Canadian biofuels sector, and the environment.
Business Risk Management |
MCGA recognizes that the current suite of Business Risk Management Tools, especially AgriStability, is not suiting the needs of most farmers. It has been a top priority to work with lobbying partners at a provincial and national level to push for urgent changes to support farmers now, and develop an improved program that supports farmers in the long term.
MCGA’s Stance
Manitoba Canola Growers signed on to a December 2020 joint letter to Minister Blaine Pedersen asking to accept the federal AgriStability offer. We share KAP’s disappointment at MB’s unclear intentions to accept meaningful change to the program. We continue to push for short and long term change to support farmers.
MCGA response to Next Policy Framework Consultation - October 2021
Statement on AgriStability Offer – January 28, 2021
Call to ratify changes to AgriStability – Minister Blaine Pedersen – December 17, 2020
Request for meeting & changes to BRM – Minister Blaine Pedersen – Aug 25, 2020
Letter of support for BRM EAP Review – Minister Ralph Eichler – Jul 12, 2018
Advocacy Partner
Canada Grain Act |
Background
It’s been nearly 50 years since the Canada Grain Act has been open for review and updated. Grain marketing and handling have evolved substantially over this time, and changes to the Act are needed to reflect today’s realities. Manitoba Canola Growers worked closely with Canadian Canola Growers Association and our provincial counterparts to develop a farmer-led response to government, which can be found at the link below. This submission also provided an opportunity to address the MCGA Member Resolution from 2021 seeking a mandatory export sales reporting program.
MCGA’s Stance
Farmer input on the review of this Act is important to ensure it reflects modern agricultural practices and effectively supports grain farming. MCGA has taken an active role in this review, and strongly encouraged our members to include your voice as well. We are proud to have worked closely with national and provincial canola organizations to create a thorough and farmer-led joint submission that seeks to redefine grain quality for domestic and export markets, modernize producer protections to reflect current selling and delivery practices, increase transparency and accountability to regain farmers’ confidence, and address the importance of a mandatory export sales reporting program.
Canola’s Canada Grain Act Submission: April 30, 2021
Information Courtesy of CCGA: Time for Change: Reviewing the Canada Grain Act
Consultation are open from January 12, 2021 to April 30, 2021. Click here for to more or to engage in the consultation.
Advocacy Partner
Code of Practice 2.0 |
Background
The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops (CRSC) spent the past year going back to the drawing board with an effort to develop a document that tells the story of sustainable crop production in Canada. MCGA board and staff have been actively involved on behalf of farmers, sharing the multitude of concerns we heard from members about the first attempt and providing detailed feedback throughout the efforts to develop a new document.
MCGA's Stance
The MCGA board unanimously objected to the initial draft, entitled the Responsible Grain Code of Practice, and committed many hours reviewing the documents in detail and sharing these objections with the CRSC. However, the MCGA board recognized action was required to deal with the risk farmers face from growing consumer and trade market demand for verified claims that their food is “sustainably produced”.
MCGA insisted that any further effort to create a document that helps market the story of sustainable crop production in Canada must be written by farmers, for farmers, with clear justification for why this document would be of value and how it would be utilized. MCGA staff and directors actively participated in consultations over the past year, and a draft outline of a revised document is expected by summer 2023.
MCGA Response on Code of Practice White Paper
Executive Summary of What We Heard and Next Steps - From Responsible Grains Website
MCGA's Response to Responsible Grain Code of Practice Consultation
Canola Consultation - What We Heard Report - Submitted by Canadian Canola Growers Association
Responsible Grain Code of Practice: MCGA Position
Advocacy Partner
Plant Breeding Innovation |
Background
Health Canada was seeking feedback on two new pieces of guidance for the Novel Food Regulations, focused on plant breeding. Their intent is to ensure the guidance provides greater clarity, predictability and transparency regarding the regulation of novel foods derived from plants, including those developed using gene editing technologies; and provides an efficient and predictable pathway to commercialization for new products. Advancing the proposed Health Canada Guidance is important to ensure an enabling environment for research and to secure farmers’ competitiveness internationally. This is not a regulatory change, but guidance on how the definition of “novel” will be interpreted. Health Canada’s recognition that gene editing is different than genetic modification and that it poses similar risks as conventional breeding better aligns Canada with major oilseed producers and provides important certainty to researchers, as well as companies looking to bring new innovation to Canada. Getting the approach to gene-editing right is particularly critical given canola’s past experience with biotech approvals.
MCGA's Stance
MCGA recognizes that canola farmers are deeply dependent on seed innovation and technology to increase resource efficiency, maximize productivity per unit of land, and continue to reduce their impact on the environment. Continued innovation that can be introduced quickly, cost-effectively, and with acceptance across all key markets, is critically important to continue the success of the canola sector in Canada.
Modernizing Canada’s regulatory approach for plant breeding by improving guidance and clarity for product developers would be of direct benefit to canola farmers by:
- supporting development of new specialty canola varieties that can increase the marketability of the crop further, perhaps featuring enhanced traits like higher protein concentration or improved protein quality or function;
- creating more resilient varieties that withstand drought, flooding, and more extreme weather;
- improving resistance to disease and pest pressures. This is particularly important for crippling diseases like clubroot, which is overcoming resistance quickly in Western Canada and will need rapid and diverse breeding options to quickly introduce new and more effective varieties;
- aligning with the rest of the world's approach to plant breeding innovation, which will help reduce the trade risk for canola farmers who are all too familiar with disruptions to the market in China that still continue today;
- publicly supporting technological advancements in new seed will build trust in the safety of food products, better aligning consumer demands for sustainable production practices with their demands for specific sources of food (e.g. non-gmo). Novel seed varieties will be essential to progress on climate change management and other sustainability goals.
MCGA Submission-Novel Foods Regulation: May 21, 2021
Consultation: Proposed new guidance for Novel Food Regulations focused on plant breeding
Advocacy Partner
Carbon Tax |
Background
MCGA recognizes the unreasonable burden that a carbon tax would place on Manitoba canola farmers. Recent tax announcements by the federal government will dramatically increase the cost for inputs, transportation, heating, and many other aspects of farming, without recognizing the climate benefits that farmers provide by storing carbon and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. MCGA continues to work with our counterparts at Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) to analyze the impacts of carbon tax announcements, and support lobbying work to protect farmers from this undue burden that they are unable to pass down the supply chain.
MCGA’s Stance
MCGA has been vehemently opposed to the undue burden and reduced competitiveness that a carbon tax would place on farmers. We have supported CCGA’s ongoing lobbying efforts to protect farmers from undue hardship and reduced competitiveness, while continuing to deliver and work toward solutions for climate change.
MCGA supports all efforts to analyze the full impact of carbon tax costs on farmers, protect farmers from increased cost burden and reduced competitiveness, and recognize farmers for decades of innovation and contributions to carbon mitigation.
Advocacy Partner