Operating context

Internal Environment

• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020-21 and 2021-22 the Canadian Grain Commission focused resources primarily on critical services including inspection and licensing, supporting producers through the Harvest Sample Program, adapting the workplace to support remote work, and implementing new approaches to provide mandated services while ensuring the safety of employees. As public health restrictions gradually lifted, the Canadian Grain Commission re-established services that had been paused and integrated the innovative practices adopted during the pandemic into its current operating environment and vision for the future of work. Moving forward, the Canadian Grain Commission will continue to modernize the workplace to enable a flexible and connected work environment that meets current operational needs and delivers on strategic priorities. These plans align with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s directive to ensure a consistent approach to hybrid work across government.
• Budget 2019 confirmed the Government’s commitment to a review of the Canada Grain Act and the operations of the Canadian Grain Commission in response to stakeholder input received through the Regulatory Review and the Economic Strategy Roundtable. Additionally, the 2021 budget committed to continue the work on regulatory modernization, including the Canada Grain Act Review, which provides an opportunity to modernize the Canadian Grain Commission regulatory framework to better address the evolving needs of farmers and the Canadian grain sector. After being paused for much of 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canada Grain Act Review was relaunched in January 2021, including stakeholder consultations. The deadline for written submissions was April 30, 2021, and feedback was also gathered through a virtual Town Hall and three Minister-led virtual roundtable discussions. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada released a “What We Heard” report that summarizes the feedback received from stakeholders in August 2021.
  
  Overall, respondents indicated that the Canadian Grain Commission should continue to have a strong role in establishing and maintaining a world-class grain quality assurance system, through regulation and oversight of the grain sector. However, opinions on the specific roles that the Canadian Grain Commission should adopt going forward, particularly in relation to delivery of official inspection services were mixed. Moving forward, the Canadian Grain Commission will continue to support Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as they analyze the consultation feedback and develop options for legislative modernization. While this is ongoing, the Canadian Grain Commission will also continue to address Canada Grain Act Review outcomes at the regulatory and operational level, within the current legislative framework.
• Prior to updating fees in 2013, prolonged periods of ad-hoc and unstable funding resulted in the under-investment in the Canadian Grain Commission’s facilities and infrastructure, programs and services, and information management technology. Since 2013, relatively stable operating costs and growing grain export volumes led to an accumulated revolving fund surplus. In 2018, the Canadian Grain Commission developed a plan to invest this surplus through an Investment Framework and reduced fees to guard against the possibility of future declines in revenues and for strategic investments. Effective August 1, 2021 the four fees for official inspection and weighing that generate most of the surplus were again reduced by 29 percent and realigned with an adjusted grain volume forecast of 48.10 MMT. The ongoing Canadian grain sector transformation continues to increase pressure on the Canadian Grain Commission’s aging infrastructure, equipment, technology, and research capabilities. Fee information is located on the Canadian Grain Commission website.
• The Canadian Grain Commission, by virtue of its mandate, is a science-based regulatory department. From a human resources management perspective, this means a relatively high percentage of positions in the organization are in non-traditional public service occupations. Given that approximately 22 percent of the Canadian Grain Commission workforce provides scientific research and related services, it is an ongoing challenge to recruit and retain the required scientific expertise where available pools of talent are small, worldwide. Another non-traditional occupation within the Canadian Grain Commission is grain inspectors, which makes up 31.5 percent of the organization. The Canadian Grain Commission administers a four-year specialized program to train and develop qualified grain inspectors. Most grain inspectors are required to work shifts or irregular hours and overtime on a frequent basis. Grain inspectors primarily work in third-party grain terminal sites and, in some regions, are required to travel frequently or work in smaller centres located in more remote areas. Given these factors, it is often challenging to provide necessary training and to recruit bilingual candidates to meet federally legislated official language requirements. These realities continue to impact the Canadian Grain Commission’s ability to deliver on core services and mandate.