2022 Pulse & Special Crops Convention

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Announcement of the establishment of a Canadian Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office.

November 18, 2022 – Winnipeg, MB

Today, Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association (CPSC) President Murad Al-Katib released the following statement on the announcement of the establishment of a Canadian Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office.

“As exporters of Canadian pulses and special crops, the CPSC has a strong appreciation for the Indo-Pacific region and what it represents in terms of opportunity for Canada to diversify its agricultural exports while positively impacting food security in the world’s most populous region.

“Today’s announcement of a Canadian Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office is great news for our industry. We want to thank Prime Minister Trudeau, Ministers Joly, Bibeau, Ng, and their cabinet colleagues for their support and recognition of the importance of this region to Canadian agribusiness.

“Canada has a long history of supplying the Indo-Pacific region with pulses and special crops, and the CPSC fully recognizes the importance of a deeper presence in the Indo-Pacific when it comes to addressing restrictive trade barriers. We look forward to working alongside government to ensure this new office helps CPSC members directly address and tear down barriers while opening new opportunities to grow our industry.”

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Murad Al-Katib
President
Canadian Pulse & Special Crops Trade Association

Thank you for joining us in beautiful Banff, Canada for PSCC 2023!

Hosted by the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association, Pulse & Special Crops Convention (PSCC) has been bringing together hundreds of industry leaders and buyers from around the globe for almost 40 years to network, discuss sector-wide challenges and grow their business.

Stay tuned for more information on PSCC 2024, September 17-19 in Winnipeg!

Join us in Winnipeg for PSCC 2024!

Hosted by the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association, Pulse & Special Crops Convention (PSCC) has been bringing together hundreds of industry leaders and buyers from around the globe for almost 40 years to network, discuss sector-wide challenges and grow their business.

PSCC 2024 will be gathering hundreds of industry leaders from around the world in Winnipeg, Canada, an agricultural hub nestled in the heart of the beautiful Canadian prairies. Join us for the networking, education and experiences you'll only find at PSCC!

STATEMENT ON THE LOCKOUT AT CANADA’S TWO NATIONAL RAIL CARRIERS

August 22, 2024 – Winnipeg, MB – Today, Pulse Canada and the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association (CPSC) issued the following statement on behalf of Chair Terry Youzwa and President Murad Al-Katib:

“For months, Pulse Canada and the CPSC have been clear that the federal government must use all tools at its disposal to ensure that Canada’s railways and economy remain open for business.

“We have worked constructively with likeminded groups through the #StopTheStrike initiative, calling on the government to act and providing viable solutions to avoid any disruption.

“The livelihoods of tens of thousands of farmers and over one hundred pulse and special crop companies have been ignored, as for the first time in our country’s history, both major national rail carriers have locked out their employees.

“For every day the rail stoppage lasts, the system requires at least one week to fully recover. This stoppage means cancelled contracts, customers lost, and irreparable damage done to our sector’s international reputation.

“We are renewing our call for Minister MacKinnon to invoke section 107 of the Canadian Labour Code and impose both sides into binding arbitration. This is the fastest way to get trains and our economy moving again.

“Our country’s leaders must show ambition, not apathy. The government must act now to stop the bleeding from this avoidable, self-inflicted wound so that Canadian farmers and agri-businesses can pick up the pieces.”

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For more information visit stopthestrike.ca or contact:

Jeff English
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Pulse Canada
204-960-1622
jenglish@pulsecanada.com

STATEMENT ON THE RESUMPTION OF SERVICE AT CANADA’S TWO NATIONAL RAIL CARRIERS

August 23, 2024 – Winnipeg, MB – Today, Pulse Canada and the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association (CPSC) issued the following statement on behalf of Chair Terry Youzwa and President Murad Al-Katib:

“The Minister’s use of section 107 to end the rail lockouts at CN and CPKC and get trains moving was necessary, appropriate, and will benefit Canada’s pulse and special crops sector. This action was a direct request from the #StopTheStrike campaign and represents the quickest way for Canada’s rail supply chain to recover and function at full capacity.

“Ongoing and planned labour actions continue to disrupt network operations on both railways, and we expect the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to enact the Ministerial orders as quickly as possible to end the uncertainty facing Canada’s pulse and special crop sector.

“Success is a full rail workforce back on the job working to deliver for Canadians. Along with our partners across Canada, we’ll continue to demand action that drives us towards that goal.”

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For more information visit stopthestrike.ca or contact:

Jeff English
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Pulse Canada
204-960-1622
jenglish@pulsecanada.com

Catastrophic Disruptions at BC and Montreal Container Terminals Hitting Canada's Pulse and Special Crops Sector Hard

November 9, 2024 - Winnipeg, MB — Pulse Canada and the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association (CPSC) are calling for an urgent resolution to ongoing labor disruptions at key export terminals in British Columbia and Montreal.  These stoppages have brought containerized pulse exports to a standstill and are severely impacting Canada’s pulse farmers and the businesses that deliver their products around the world.

In both Vancouver and Montreal, negotiations have broken down. It is clear the collective bargaining process has failed, and government intervention is needed immediately. It is time for Minister MacKinnon to issue an order under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to direct the Canada Industrial Relations Board to end the work stoppages at the Ports of Montreal and Vancouver.

“Our sector works hard to meet the world’s demand for nutritious, sustainable and staple foods” said Murad Al-Katib, President of the CPSC. “I cannot overstate how devastating these stoppages are to our industry. We are major suppliers to the global food industry and we’re letting our customers down.  Every day that we can’t deliver adds cost which not only impacts our bottom line but makes food less affordable for consumers in every corner of the world.  These strikes and lockouts must end now.”

“The lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans, and faba beans we grow in Canada are the best in the world, but if we can’t deliver them consistently and reliably, we simply aren’t the premier supplier. These disruptions erode profitability from our farms, they hurt our industry’s ability to fulfill today’s contracts, and they damage Canada’s reputation in the long term said Terry Youzwa, Chair of Pulse Canada. “We need the Minister to act now.”

Each year, Canada’s pulse and special crops industry relies on the containerized freight system to move 1.4 million tonnes of product to global markets. The fall season is particularly vital and highly competitive, with over 300,000 tonnes historically shipped in October and November alone.

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For more information, media may contact

Jeff English

Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Pulse Canada

204-960-1622

STATEMENT ON THE LABOUR DISRUPTIONS AT CANADIAN PORTS

November 12, 2024 – Winnipeg, MB – Today, Pulse Canada and the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association (CPSC) issued the following statement on behalf of Chair Terry Youzwa and President Murad Al-Katib:

“The Minister’s use of section 107 to end the catastrophic disruption at Canada’s ports is welcome news to Canada’s pulse and special crops sector. We appreciate that the federal government heard the concerns of industry and acted to prevent further economic harm.

“These stoppages were simply the latest in a disturbing pattern of supply chain disruptions that habitually threaten the livelihoods of those working in Canada’s pulse and special crops sector, the growth Canadian economy, and the pocketbooks of Canadian consumers.

“It is time for a long-term solution to ensure that labour issues can be addressed in an appropriate, timely manner, without impacting the thousands of businesses and millions of families who rely on a functioning supply chain to make a living.

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For more information, media may contact
Jeff English
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Pulse Canada

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The Pulse & Special Crops Convention is the premier event for connecting the global pulse and special crops industry, bringing together hundreds of buyers, sellers, and service providers to nurture and build relationships that drive market growth.