Canadian Grain Commission facts for kids
| Commission canadienne des grains | |
 CGC building at 303 Main Street in Winnipeg |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1912 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Headquarters | 303 Main St., Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Minister responsible |
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| Agency executives |
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| Key document |
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| Website | https://grainscanada.gc.ca |
The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is a special group that works for the Canadian government. Its main job is to make sure that the way grain is handled in Canada is fair and safe.
They also protect the rights of farmers who grow grain. The CGC helps make sure that grain deals are honest and that Canada's grain is good quality for everyone who buys it, both in Canada and in other countries.
Contents
What the CGC Does
The Canadian Grain Commission works under the direction of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. This minister is like the head of farming and food for the country.
The CGC follows rules set out in a law called the Canada Grain Act. This law helps them do their job. Three main leaders, called commissioners, are chosen by the government to run the CGC. One of them is the Chief Commissioner.
The main office of the CGC is in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They also have offices in Montreal and Vancouver. These offices help check grain, weigh it, and make sure it's free from bugs.
The CGC has two very important jobs:
- They set and keep high standards for the quality of Canadian grain. This helps make sure that grain sold from Canada is always good.
- They create rules for how grain is handled. This helps make sure that grain is moved and stored properly.
- They also set up a system to grade and inspect grain. This shows how good the grain is and helps it be sold easily in Canada and around the world.
A Brief History of the CGC
The Canadian Grain Commission started in 1971. Before that, it was called the Board of Grain Commissioners for Canada, which began way back in 1912. Even then, people often called it the "Canadian grain commission."
When it first started, the rules said that anyone who owned or ran grain storage places, like elevators or mills, needed a special permit. The rules also made sure that grain was handled and stored correctly. It even stopped people who owned big grain storage places from buying or selling grain themselves.
Over the years, there were times when people disagreed about how much power the government had over grain. For example, in 1925, a court said the government couldn't take extra grain from elevators and sell it for profit. This was because it stepped into areas that were controlled by the provinces.
Later, in 1971, a court decided that the government could declare private grain elevators as important for all of Canada. This meant the government could control them more closely. In 1975, a court also said that a private rapeseed storage building was a "grain elevator" and should be under the CGC's control. These decisions helped define the CGC's role.
The CGC Building
| Canadian Grain Commission Building | |
|---|---|
Grain Commission building, No. 1 Northern visible in the forecourt
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Modernist |
| Location | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Opened | 1972 |
| Owner | Government of Canada |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Ernest J. Smith |
The Canadian Grain Commission's main building is in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It opened in 1972.
Building Design
The main architect for the CGC building was Ernest J. Smith. The building is sometimes called the "mushroom building" because of its unique shape. It's a good example of a Modernist skyscraper with strong, simple designs.
The building has an "extended cap" at the top. This design was needed to create extra space between the upper and lower floors. This space holds special machines that help move grain to a flour mill and a test brewery located higher up in the building. It was a tricky design challenge to mix offices and lab spaces in one tall building.
Sculpture Outside the Building
In 1976, a large steel sculpture called No. 1 Northern was placed in front of the building. It was made by John Cullen Nugent. The sculpture was meant to look like fields of wheat, with many layers of rectangular shapes. It was painted a bright yellow, like ripe harvest wheat.
The sculpture was named after a very strong and important type of Canadian red spring wheat. However, many people, including some officials and the public, really disliked the sculpture. It was removed in 1978.
But the story doesn't end there! After being moved to another building and then removed again, No. 1 Northern was put back in front of the Grain Commission building in 1997.
Images for kids
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CGC building at 303 Main Street in Winnipeg
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Grain Commission building, No. 1 Northern visible in the forecourt
See also
In Spanish: Canadian Grain Commission para niños
