Patti Miller Appointed Chief Commissioner of the CGC

Patti Miller

Update: This story originally stated Miller’s appointment begins March 13, 2017, but according to the ag minister’s office, there was an error in the order posted by the Privy Council. As noted in the minister’s official announcement on January 3, Miller’s appointment begins February 13, 2017.

The president of the Canola Council of Canada is moving on to take the head role at the Canadian Grain Commission in February.

Patti Miller has been appointed to be the next chief commissioner for the federal department that regulates Canada’s grain industry, replacing interim chief commissioner Jim Smolik. Smolik filled in after Elwin Hermanson’s term expired January 20, 2016.

Miller has a background working with the federal government, managing program delivery for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada prior to joining the Canola Council in April 2012. She previously worked as a communications manager for a multi-national agri-food company in Winnipeg, and holds a M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Saskatchewan.

Patti Miller in conversation with RealAg’s Shaun Haney.

Her six year appointment begins February 13, 2017, with an annual salary between $230,800 and $271,500.

Meanwhile, the assistant chief commissioner and commissioner offices at the CGC remain vacant. Assistant chief commissioner Smolik filled in as the interim chief commissioner after Hermanson’s appointment ended, but Smolik’s term ended on November 24. Commissioner Murdoch MacKay was the last of the trio left at the CGC’s office on Main St. in Winnipeg, however his appointment wrapped up December 5.

While the governor general officially makes the CGC commissioner appointments, they’re made on the recommendation of the federal agriculture minister. There were at least seven applicants for the three commissioner positions with farm organization or grain industry experience, according to anonymous sources we spoke with.

In addition to the other two CGC commissioner roles, the question now arises — who’s going to be the next president of the Canola Council?

Related: Who’s Going to Run the Canadian Grain Commission?

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