On Canadian Agriculture Day, Wheat Growers Demand Some Science From Canada’s Chief Science Advisor

Calgary, AB | The Western Canadian Wheat Growers expressed dismay at a meeting of the Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research where Canada’s Chief Science Advisor informed that she had not been asked, nor had determined, if mandated fertilizer reductions would impact food production in Canada.

As science advisor, Dr. Mona Nemer’s mandate is clear. “The Office of the Chief Science Advisor provides advice on issues related to science and government policies that support it. This includes advising on ways to ensure that scientific knowledge is considered in public policy decisions and that government science is fully available to the public.”

Speaking to the failure to study the obvious relationship between fertilizer and food production, Wheat Growers President Gunter Jochum commented, “More and more government departments are failing to deliver on their mandates, and are being ideologically captured. We see this in Agriculture Canada, and now in the office of the Chief Science Advisor. At a time of food insecurity and skyrocketing consumer prices for basic food staples, to fail to consider the impact on the food supply of fertilizer reductions is frankly appalling. Canadians deserve public policy that is based on science and common sense. Neither supports reducing the Canadian food supply at this time, and that is what mandated fertilizer cuts will do. For the government not to subject this policy to scientific analysis says one thing clearly – they don’t care if consumers face even higher prices and more food insecurity.”

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About the Wheat Growers

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is a voluntary farmer-run advocacy organization dedicated to developing public policy solutions that strengthen the profitability and sustainability of farming, and the agricultural industry as a whole. For more information, please visit: wheatgrowers.ca. Click here to see who is helping to advocate for grain farmers.

For media requests please contact:

Morten Paulsen 1-403-399-3377 mpaulsen@wheatgrowers.ca