F. Charles Waud Arranges Meeting with Kyle Seeback, MP Brampton West.
“OPMA is continuing to meet with federal MP’s to raise the importance of establishing a deemed trust in Canada, similar to the trust currently in place in the United States. With the help of OPMA member Charles Waud, President of WaudWare Inc., we met with Kyle Seeback, Conservative MP from Brampton West on March 17th. Luc Mougeot from the Dispute Resolution Corporation in Ottawa also attended at our request to help answer any technical questions.
Following a brief tour of the Terminal, we were able to meet and carefully explain each point to Mr. Seeback. The industry is supplementing its submissions to the consultation that is seeking amendments to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Thanks to work overseen by the Dispute Resolution Corporation on behalf of industry, a very well-known and respected Law Professor and insolvency expert was contracted to draft a new Act that would provide a Canadian made solution to offering financial protection to produce suppliers. This draft Act is now in the hands of the industry to pursue with government.
Mr. Seeback was thoroughly engaged in our discussion and offered suggestions as to next steps. He also indicated that directly contacting MP’s like himself and others in the Conservative caucus is an excellent way to educate members of Parliament of the importance of passing this legislation.
As an added benefit, establishing a deemed statutory trust would potentially prompt the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reinstate Canada’s preferential access to their dispute resolution system for produce suppliers under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) which was revoked on October 1st 2014.
The OPMA would again encourage all members to write or visit their local MP as soon as possible. If you need help in writing a letter or arranging a meeting, please contact Ian MacKenzie at 416-519-9390, ext. 231 or ian@theopma.ca.”
[source: OPMA Member Notice: March 27, 2015]
