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March 19, 2008
CBC

Grain commission chief fails to win approval from committee

The head of the Canadian Grain Commission, Elwin Hermanson, says he's disappointed the parliamentary committee on agriculture has refused to support his appointment.

The former Reform MP and former Saskatchewan Party leader was appointed chief commissioner of the Winnipeg-based agency in December. The parliamentary committee debated and then rejected the appointment last week.

"It was very awkward," Hermanson said. "Some of the comments were that 'You probably are the right person for the job, it's just too bad that you happen to know some people in the government.'"

The committee's rejection of Hermanson's appointment is not binding. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said the appointment will stand.

One committee member, Liberal agriculture critic Wayne Easter, is calling for Hermanson to step down. He says Hermanson violated his code of ethics by writing an opinion piece in the Western Producer in favour of Bill C-39, a controversial piece of legislation that would alter the services provided by the grain commission.

"That's not his role. His role is to administer the legislation he's appointed under," Easter said. "He basically needs to be neutral."

Political ties worrisome, Bloc MP says

Also expressing concerns about Hermanson was Bloc Québécois MP Mario Laframboise, who said last month it was "extremely unwise" for the Conservative government to appoint him. He wondered aloud whether Hermanson would work in the interests of farmers or the Conservative government.

"While he has been a grain producer himself, we believe that his close political ties to the present prime minister, with whom he sat from 1993 to 1997, cast doubt on his credibility," Laframboise said.

Laframboise noted that according to Agriculture Minister Ritz's website, Ritz was Hermanson's campaign manager in 1993 and his constituency office co-ordinator from 1993 to 1997.

Hermanson rejected the notion his political background would influence his work at the commission.

"It's not my business to inject myself into the political debate. It's my job, having been appointed chief grain commissioner, to provide leadership and direction to this organization," he said.

The grain commission licenses grain elevators and sets guidelines for grading grains.

© CBC

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