Glacier FarmMedia — Two national canola organizations said they’re not pleased with the federal government’s announcement on helping canola growers and the biofuel industry. The Canola Council of Canada and the Canadian Canola Growers Association expressed their disappointment in a Sept. 5 news release.
Earlier that Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a $5 billion package to aid businesses and industries facing tariffs and job losses. Of that, $370 million over two years was designated for canola producers and the domestic biofuel industry. Carney said that includes increasing that maximum interest free portion on the advance payments program from $250,000 to $500,000.
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China recently hit its Canadian canola seed imports with a 75.8 per cent levy and previously slapped 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil and meal. The latter measures are believed to be in response to Ottawa’s 100 per cent duties on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles. The surcharge on the seed is part of China’s ongoing investigation into allegations of canola dumping by Canada.
‘Discouraged’
“We are discouraged with the government’s support package for the industry. The measures announced today do not reflect the seriousness of the challenge facing the value chain,” CCC president and CEO Chris Davison said in the press statement.
“Farmers should not be expected to borrow their way out of this situation,” added CCGA president and CEO Rick White. “The advanced payments program is not designed to provide the required support canola farmers need under this situation.”
Davison and White said the changes the federal government says it will make to enhance Canadian biofuel production don’t go far enough.
Rather than implementing financial supports, the two presidents said the feds need to resolve the trade issues with China.
“We are calling on the federal government to urgently work with us to provide meaningful and impactful support for the industry as we continue to navigate this trade crisis,” they said. “The federal government must pursue all avenues to resolve the current trade dispute with China and re-open that market for the Canadian canola industry.”
– With files from Jonah Grignon, Glacier FarmMedia
