Moe, Trudeau discuss strategy on canola crisis

REGINA Premier Scott Moe has reached out to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss China’s canola crackdown.

He said he used a Tuesday phone call to push for escalating engagement with Chinese officials and federal help to protect farmers from a looming cash-flow crunch.

Moe said the talk convinced him the issue is a priority for Trudeau.

“I have every reason to believe that he is taking this seriously,” said the premier.

Moe said he raised three specific issues with Trudeau: research partnerships to prove Canadian canola is safe, high-level talks to push for a political solution and capital assistance to support farmers anxious about what the crisis means for them.

“We had a good conversation on continuing with the scientific engagement, supportive of moving that into the diplomatic and even political engagement, not only with China but also with the U.S., and last but not least, putting forward suggestions to ensure our producers have access to capital come this spring,” he said.

He offered the assistance of Saskatchewan’s research community in ongoing efforts to convince China that Canadian canola is free from harmful pathogens. Chinese officials have cited pests as a pretext for halting canola shipments from Richardson International Ltd. Just this week, a Chinese customs website announced that imports from Regina-based Viterra Inc. would also be blocked.

Canada has brushed aside allegations that its canola is contaminated, and engaged in technical discussions with China to prove it.

But Moe said that might take time. So he added his voice to those who see a need to take the fight higher up the political ladder. Though he didn’t directly say the canola blockade is related to the ongoing dispute between Canada and China over the detention of a senior Chinese telecom executive, he said he called on Trudeau to seek a diplomatic or political solution.

“I always want it as fast as possible ...” said Moe. “We’re happy to hear that the federal government is looking at sending a delegation, quite likely officials of the highest level that are able to engage in China,

and we’d offer to participate in any way.

“Ultimately, the next steps would hopefully be at a political level.”

Asked if Trudeau should call President Xi Jinping of China to press for open access, Moe said “it’s a progression.”

Moe’s last request for Trudeau focused on the capital needs farmers will face as they prepare for spring seeding. He said many still have canola in the bin, but plummeting prices have reduced the value of those stockpiles and could cut off the cash flow farmers need for the inputs they need for this season.

“If we can provide that access to capital ... they can put the crop in,” said Moe.

He said the idea isn’t yet fully fleshed out, but he’s requesting federal assistance to move it forward.

Moe said the prime minister gave him a clear answer:

“We will absolutely look at this,” he quoted Trudeau as saying.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the discussion took place, saying Trudeau was “happy to speak with the premier on this issue given how seriously the federal government is taking it.” She said Trudeau also met with the CEO of Richardson International during a visit to Winnipeg on Tuesday, and stressed that three federal ministers are all over the file.