Grain Growers past president named to CGC post

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has named a past president of the Grain Growers of Canada to a three-year term as assistant chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission.

At the time of his appointment, announced Friday, Jim Smolik of Dawson Creek, B.C. sat on the GGC’s executive committee as past president and is listed as a director of the B.C. Grain Producers Association, as one of four representatives from the southern Peace River region.

Smolik, a grain farmer for the past 32 years, has been involved with the B.C. group since 1987 and has also served stints as its president and as executive director. He has sat on various government and industry committees including the national safety nets advisory committee and the next-generation Agricultural Policy Framework advisory committee. He was also previously a board member with the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, an industry lobby group focused on international trade negotiations.

Smolik’s three-year term begins Nov. 12.

The Canadian Grain Commission is the federal agency that sets and maintains Canadian grain quality standards and licenses and regulates grain handling.

The Grain Growers of Canada lobbies on behalf of its members and member groups for government ag policies that are “transparent, non-distorting and subject to periodic review” and “that will attract investment in a competitive value-added processing industry” and stimulate research and development. It also advocates for a “grower-driven” grain trading environment based on “comparative advantage and open markets.”