APAS RESOLUTIONS
Approved Resolutions
Resolutions adopted by the 2021 APAS Annual General Meeting
"BE IT RESOLVED that APAS reject the proposed Code of Practice for grain production; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops (CRSC) be encouraged to promote current farm practices and regulations and only proceed with additional “assurance benchmarks” that address a clear need/market risk, are producer driven, and recognize the value of current responsible stewardship practices."
Producer Car Access to Port Terminals
WHEREAS producer car shipments are an important feature of Canada’s grain industry that promote competition and market diversification WHEREAS limited access to Port handling capacity and the unreasonable cost of services have combined to hinder producer car usage in recent years
WHEREAS the Canada Grain Act contains provisions concerning producers’ right to “railway cars” while designating primary and terminal elevators to be “works in the general advantage of Canada”
BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Grain Commission use its authority under the Canada Grain Act to ensure producer car shipments are provided access to Port handling and loading services at competitive rates.
Conversion of Grain Weight to Dry Matter Basis
WHEREAS producers can face significant price discounts when selling grain that exceeds Canadian Grain Commission’s (CGC) minimum moisture level for dry grain WHEREAS there is often no corresponding premium for grain that is lower than the minimum standards which can also result in a price reduction due to its lower weight
WHEREAS there are federal regulations and standards in other industries, including the fuel industry, to correct for these types of discrepancies using regulated “conversion factors” BE IT RESOLVED that APAS request the federal government to establish a conversion factor for grains and oilseed that calculates weight on a “dry matter basis”, such that the weight of grain at final settlement is calculated at its minimum dry moisture level (e.g. 14.5% for wheat).
Port of Vancouver Governance Reform
WHEREAS Transport Canada is currently undertaking a Ports Modernization Review WHEREAS Saskatchewan producers and other export industries have become increasingly reliant on the Port of Vancouver for trade and market access WHEREAS western Canadian provinces, as a group, ship up to 85% of the Port of Vancouver’s export value but only have 9% of the representation on its Board of Directors
BE IT RESOLVED that APAS strongly support the request that Port of Vancouver governance structure be updated to include greater representation from western provincial governments and the export dependent industries in their jurisdictions.
Wildlife Damage Programs for Grain in Temporary Storage
WHEREAS the use of grain bags and other temporary storage systems is increasingly common and sometimes essential practice for Saskatchewan farm operations WHEREAS grain in temporary storage is not afforded the same level of wildlife damage compensation and prevention program options available for stacked hay, silage and bales
BE IT RESOLVED that APAS request that wildlife damage compensation and prevention programs be expanded to cover harvested production stored in grain bags and other temporary storage systems until April 1st.
Responsible Grains Code of Practice
WHEREAS The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops (CRSC) has developed a draft voluntary Code of Practice for Grain Production (Responsible Grain) WHEREAS Canadian grain is of high quality and produced in accordance with science-based standards and regulations covering crop protection products, land-use management and environmental stewardship WHEREAS the Code is national in scope and contains recommendations that are inconsistent with the need to adapt farm practices to weather and production conditions that vary across regions and provinces
WHEREAS there is considerable overlap but lack of integration between the Code and existing provincial Environmental Farm Plans, market-specific sustainability programs, and voluntary conservation projects BE IT RESOLVED that APAS reject the proposed Code of Practice for grain production; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops (CRSC) be encouraged to promote current farm practices and regulations and only proceed with additional “assurance benchmarks” that address a clear need/market risk, are producer driven, and recognize the value of current responsible stewardship practices.
Sask Power Fire Hazards and Claims Processes
WHEREAS As of March 2017, SaskPower amended their guidelines with respect to Firefighting claims on private property WHEREAS There have been multiple incidences since then where SaskPower has refused to compensate for Fire Fighting Claims resulting from downed powerlines
BE IT RESOLVED that APAS lobby SaskPower and the Minister Responsible for SaskPower to review their guidelines with respect to Fire Fighting Claims and to consult with volunteer Fire Departments and landowners in that review process BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that APAS encourage SaskPower to immediately launch a program to identify potential fire hazard areas in consultation with landowners, address any potential liability issues, and take remedial actions.