Agriculture committee  Over the last year, obviously, CP dropped the ball and CN took hold of that opportunity. I think that goes back and forth from year to year. As a producer I'd love to see common access to rail lines, such that we'd have running rights, we'd be able to purchase from other companies so we'd have competition in the rail system.

Agriculture committee  I would say it's 100% in our area.

Agriculture committee  There are some genetically modified events that may not be registered, or registrations may not be kept up because of the cost of that kind of process in some countries. When you measure such small quantities, an old event that is past registration or is not recognized in a marketplace could appear in a test of one-billionth of a cargo, and that can cause trade disruption if that country is looking hard enough for that single event.

Agriculture committee  I certainly have no idea.

Agriculture committee  There are organic farmers, I think, across this country, and in my area I know there are organic farmers.

Agriculture committee  No, it would probably be less than 1%.

Agriculture committee  Obviously any improvement in technology so they can get more product done. it's about tonnes per mile or per day. If the railways have a way to do that, then yes, I believe there is. Obviously with GPS technology in rail movement, it's hard for us farmers to understand how the rail companies don't know when the train's going to show up.

Agriculture committee  If I were to move that even more globally, the rail system in this country is holding hostage many more industries than agriculture. It's holding this country hostage in its ability to move forward. It is the backbone of this country for the development: if we go back in time, western Canada was developed under the railway system.

Agriculture committee  What we support is science-based regulation. The other way to combat that a bit, as we talked a little about, is through low-level presence. I really believe you need this policy on low-level presence.

Agriculture committee  I don't think it's for the canola industry to get into the debate on whether alfalfa.... We're not here to put down other farm groups or what not.

Agriculture committee  Okay. Access to affordable credit is of major importance for growers to manage their cashflow and take advantage of marketing opportunities whenever they may present themselves. The federal government’s advance payment program, administered by CCGA and many other commodity groups, provides farmers with advances of up to $400,000, with $100,000 interest-free.

Agriculture committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. Thank you for inviting the Canadian Canola Growers Association to speak to you as you study the Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Growing Forward 2 program and the issues that affect the competitiveness of Canadian farmers, a topic that is critically important to Canadian canola growers.