Winnipeg-Canada’s agriculture retailers, concerned about the high risk from terrorists and others seeking to acquire fertilizer and other chemicals, have issued an urgent appeal for help from the federal government in securing their facilities. “Canadian agri-retailers are prepared to do their part but should not be expected to shoulder the entire burden of shielding the sector from terrorist penetration,” declared David MacKay, executive director of the Canadian Assn. of Agri-Retailers (CAAR). “Public safety is a primary responsibility of the federal government and we need their help to secure the products that are critical to Canada’s agricultural economy.” MacKay emphasized that their U.S. retail counterparts already benefit from access to enhanced tax credits and grants for security upgrades at agri-business facilities, including perimeter fencing, computer access controls, video surveillance, and security lighting. “Agriculture is a global market and Canadian producers now find themselves at a competitive disadvantage because they must pick up the tab for security costs that have nothing to do with crop production.” Supporting this effort, farmers with Grain Growers of Canada cautioned that leaving it to the agri-retail sector to pick up the costs of security upgrades will result in higher prices for crop inputs. “Inevitably these costs must be paid for at the farm gate – something that will not sit well with grain, pulse and oilseed farmers,” warned Richard Phillips, GGC executive director. “Our government needs to help protect Canada’s investment in agriculture by ensuring we remain globally competitive.” According to CAAR, the idea of partnering with the government on a comprehensive security protocol has won tremendous support among individual Members of Parliament, where formal recommendations have been made by a house and senate standing committee, but no support has been forthcoming from the Prime Minister or his cabinet.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain