District 4 Report: Nov 09
To begin, Norm and David, your District Four Directors, must apologize for the lack of reporting since April. We can present all of the excuses in the world - but none are a good reason.
Since our last report we have attended numerous meetings and done a bit of farming too - and all of us have put up with much nasty weather starting with the spring and continuing right through the end of October.
Going way back to mid March - Norm attended an Agri Foresight workshop in Calgary. This was the first in a planned series of five workshops to plot the future of agriculture over the next twenty years with climate change.
The subjects of the workshops include science and technology, planning, policy (which includes safety nets), and implementation. The next two workshops were held in Ottawa in June and July, which Norm also attended, the fourth was held in Edmonton during the last week in October and the fifth has not been announced yet. The June workshop coincided with the Mid Term meeting in Saskatoon and the July workshop with the July board meeting.
In October Norm met with the RM of Big Quill, and talked with the administrators of both the RM of Elfros and Lakeview about CN closing the rail sidings for loading producer cars. On October 14th, Norm went to Regina and sat in on a grains and planning meeting with President Marshall, Nial, Aj and Doug. Then went to the Liberal Leader, Micheal Ignatieff luncheon, and then had a meeting with Dennis Sherratt to discuss the future for ALUS and where APAS will be taking it.
David also had a fairly busy summer and fall. He attended the Canadian Grain Commission meeting, and the Outstanding Young Farmer Awards, in conjunction with the Farm Progress Show in Regina. The Economic, Trade and Strategic Growth Committee mtgs in Regina in June and in Saskatoon in August, and again in October.
While dealing with many Agriculture related issues, the hiring of Al Scholz to do an in-depth study of best practices for inter generational transfer of farms was one of the main goals of these meetings .
A review of our farm safety nets programs was also done. This included a meeting of APAS, KAP, and WRAP with Meyers Norris, and Penney. Much discussion was held on margin based programs, and their ability, inability, to be timely and bankable!!
In mid July David attended the CFA mid term conference in Kelowna. It was a very busy few days, with a lot of interesting and very timely sessions on many important issues.
The September announcements of delisting of railcar sidings by the CNR caught many of us in the NE off guard. Of the 53 sidings in Western Canada that CN wants to delist, seven of them affect us here in District 4. APAS, along with KAP and WRAP have taken the position that not only is it the timing of the delisting,[ harvest,] but the whole delisting procedure, that is wrong headed. We would like to see producer cars, and the issues surrounding them ,become part of the Level of Service review for CN that is currently being held in Ottawa There should be no changes, until the committee in charge of the Service Review has had adequate time to look at all aspects of service, and make their recommendations! There will be less competition, and less opportunities in an everchaging agricultural environment. We don’t know what our future needs will be, but once the sidings are delisted and salvaged, they are gone forever!!
David met with the Administrators and some Reeves and Councillors of 10 of the RM’s in the NE to bring their attention to this issue. All were very concerned, and they were encouraged to write letters and pressure politicians to intercede, and the CN themselves to reconsider.
June Draude a local Sask Party MLA responded immediately with letters and phone calls , on her constituents behalf. The federal Member of Parliament for Prince Albert, Randy Hoback, brought the issue forth as a member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture. Randy challenged the CN to come forward with itemized examples of the expenses that the Railway claims they are incurring because of these sidings. No examples were brought forward!!!
David was in Ottawa in October for the National Forum on Seed. While there, he met with his MP ,Randy Hoback. They had good discussions about the Railways, and other important agriculture issues!
In the coming weeks Norm and Dave will be meeting with many RM’s to discuss many issues such as the cattle issue, grain transportation and producer cars, membership and anything else that comes up.
In the near future there will be some things to watch for, all committees will be meeting this month, if you are on a committee watch for a notice, also we will be looking to have a district meeting prior to the December Mid Term, I don’t know how to say that, but weather permitting, and then of course there is the December Mid Term, December 2-4 in Regina.
If you have concerns or ideas that you want to discuss, be sure to email either of us at
Norm Hall normhall@apas.ca
David Spencer davidspencer@apas.ca
See you in December!!
Take Care;
David and Norm