Vancouver Grain Terminal Strike Puts Saskatchewan Wheat Producers at Risk

Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat) is calling on the Federal Government to use all tools necessary to ensure the parties come to an agreement as soon as possible with the Grain Workers Union (GWU) strike at the Port of Vancouver, which will stop all shipments of bulk grain.

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the Grain Workers Union issued a strike notice, placing it in a legal strike position starting Tuesday, September 24th at 7 a.m. PT. The job action involves approximately 650 grain workers in the bargaining unit. A strike would fully shut down operations at the following bulk grain export terminals in Vancouver:
• Alliance Grain Terminal,
• Cascadia Terminal,
• Cargill,
• G3 Terminal,
• Pacific Elevators, and
• Richardson International.

Sask Wheat represents approximately 24,000 Saskatchewan wheat and winter cereals producers for whom timely, responsive, and efficient supply chains are fundamental to
competitiveness and profitability. Saskatchewan produces almost half of the non-durum wheat and 80 percent of the durum grown in Canada annually, the majority of which is moved by rail to ocean ports and then to export markets.

“The Port of Vancouver is critical to Canada’s grain supply chain, as 70 percent of Western Canadian grain shipments are exported through Vancouver,” says Jake Leguee, Chair of Sask Wheat’s board of directors. Data from the Canadian Grain Commission shows that these terminals receive approximately 100,000 metric tonnes of grain per day, resulting in $35 million in lost export potential per day if a work stoppage occurs.

“A work stoppage at terminal elevators would further congest the grain handling and transportation system across Western Canada, which is still recovering from the dual rail work stoppage in August,” states Leguee. “Another work stoppage would prolong the recovery period even further, at a critical time for grain shipments as we near the end of the harvest period.”

If grain companies are unable to ship grain to Vancouver terminal elevators, in-country elevators will inevitably fill-up which will impact farmers’ ability to deliver grain, negatively impacting cash flow on farms. This will have a significant impact on farmers as many depend on fall movement of grain as bills for this year’s crop come due and expenses begin to accrue for next year’s crop. The potential of another work stoppage in our grain handling and transportation system will further damage Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality grain to international markets with future repercussions for sales and global competitiveness.

Sask Wheat is a producer-led organization representing approximately 24,000 wheat and winter cereals producers in the province. Sask Wheat provides leadership in identifying and supporting research, market development and advocacy that contributes to profitable and sustainable wheat and winter cereal production for Saskatchewan farmers.