The Potato Growers of Alberta (PGA) is concerned about recent public
commentary in the United States apparently discrediting the PGA and
the quality of Alberta seed potatoes – the implication being
that the PGA is attempting to hide a bacterial ring rot problem in
Alberta. Alberta seed potatoes remain of the highest quality, as evident
in all of the satisfied buyers of Alberta seed potatoes, both U.S.
and Canadian.
The recent decision of the PGA to commence a lawsuit in the Court
of Queen’s Bench of Alberta to prevent the inappropriate use
of information in the possession of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA) relating to seed potato certification has been the subject
of much of the misinformed comment in the media and amongst the potato
industry in the United States.
The purpose of the suit commenced by the PGA is not to suppress the
release of any information connected with seed potato certification
by the CFIA in Canada or otherwise. Rather, the purpose is to control
and to limit the potentially injurious effects arising from the use
of certain CFIA seed potato certification information from several
Alberta producers in a Washington State lawsuit pending against a
member of the PGA. The improper use of such information could prejudice
the regulations and standards used by the CFIA in the certification
of all Canadian seed potatoes for domestic and export use and disrupt
the agricultural policy agreements and initiatives of the Canadian
and U.S. governments.
The PGA commenced this lawsuit arising from a concern that the quality
of the Canadian inspection, testing and certification protocol for
seed potatoes implemented by the CFIA was subject to criticism in
the Washington lawsuit. If the Washington Plaintiff is successful
on this basis, the Washington Court judgment would set a precedent
adversely affecting the ability of Canadian seed potato producers
to rely upon the Canadian seed potato certification process thus eviscerating
the Canadian seed potato certification standards.
The PGA believes that if there are any significant issues with respect
to standards used in trade in the potato industry between our two
neighboring countries, it should be dealt with through the normal
inter-governmental channels that already exist between Canada and
the United States. Potato and seed potato producers in the two countries
would then be re-assured that their interests and concerns are fully
addressed as opposed to a private lawsuit potentially affecting or
dictating agricultural policy.
The PGA was also named, mistakenly, as one of several Applicants in
proceedings commenced in the Federal Court of Canada dealing with
the potential release under the Access to Information Act of the same
CFIA information that is the subject matter of the PGA’s Alberta
lawsuit. The PGA was inappropriately included in these Federal Court
proceedings on the mistaken belief it was necessary to ensure the
CFIA information was not prematurely released thereby rendering the
Alberta lawsuit moot.
Steps are underway to remove the PGA from the Federal Court Access
to Information Act proceedings. Those proceedings will continue in
the names of the several individual seed potato producers whose information
the CFIA possesses, which is the subject matter of the Alberta lawsuit
and who fully support the efforts of the PGA in the Alberta litigation.
PGA is a non-profit agricultural commission initiating programs to
improve the production and marketing of potatoes. The PGA continues
to work with the integrated potato industry in both Canada and the
United States to ensure the effective production and marketing of
potato crops of the highest quality in both countries as it has in
the past.
The preceding letter was an open letter sent to U.S. potato growers
and the media from the Potato Growers of Alberta.
