July 7, 1997

Potential Grain Demonstrations: Communications Scenario

Issue:

Various media outlets report that farmers are planning a convoy of up to 500 trucks that will export grain without a permit in order to protest the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly on grain sales.

Background:

Farmers for Justice (FFJ) issued a press release in early January 1997, looking for volunteers for the "Andy 500."  The "Andy 500" is a proposed border demonstration in support of Andy McMechan, the Manitoba farmer who recently spent five months in jail for breach of bail conditions related to offences under the Customs Act for exporting grain without a Canadian Wheat Board permit.  FFJ hopes to het 500 participants to export grain without a permit at an as yet undetermined port.  These individuals apparently want to be charged so they can again get their dispute before the courts.

When the FFJ press release was issued it was picked up by various media and, on Saturday February 1, 1997, it ran as a CP wire story.  On June 30, 1997, FFJ issued a press release advising that he demonstration would occur on July 15, 1997, at the port of Portal, Saskatchewan.  However, the idea of having 500 trucks has apparently been abandoned.  The demonstration may involve an unknown number of trucks (estimated to be 10-12) and a larger number of individuals carrying bags of barley across the border.

There are currently approximately 125 individuals who have been charged with various offences under the Customs Act related to the grain dispute.  Most charges are for exporting without a Canadian Wheat Board permit and removing vehicles under seizure.  To date, 22 individuals cases have been heard by the courts resulting in 20 convictions and one acquittal.

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As far as demonstrations are concerned, the most recent on in the Prairie Region was in July 1996, at the Port of Coutts, Alberta.  The last demonstration in Manitoba and Saskatchewan was in mid-May 1996.

There is currently no intelligence information to confirm the possibility/likelihood of a protest.  On the contrary, the feeling expressed by some farmers previously involved in the grain dispute seems to be against any form of border protest, likely due to the charges being laid and the convictions by the courts.

Public Environment:

The grain demonstrations in the past have received significant media coverage, mostly because they are announced by a press release issued by FFJ.  The majority of the coverage has been factual and has focused on the reason for the demonstration, i.e. dissatisfaction with the Canadian Wheat Board, rather than the handling of the demonstration at the border.

Court proceedings and convictions also get significant media coverage.  This coverage has focused on the validity of the legislation and the penalties assessed.  While the vast majority of the charges are under the Customs Act, the media coverage has always referred back to the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly as being the reason for the court proceedings.  Customs' role has been characterized as enforcing the applicable legislation.

The bulk of the media coverage focuses on Any McMechan, who has been doing a number of media interviews since early January.  Mr.. McMechan has received extensive coverage that has been focused mainly upon his incarceration for five months for what he describes as "selling his own grain."  Mr. McMechan was featured in a seven page cover story in the March 1997 edition of the Financial Post Magazine.  References to Customs were relatively minor and mostly factual in explaining the department's dealings with Mr. McMechan.

Mr. McMechan was also prominently mentioned in a 30 minute segment of the Fifth Estate on CBC-TV on February 18, 1997.  Again, Customs was only mentioned briefly in terms of the department's enforcement role and its peaceful handling of border protests.  A significant theme throughout the program suggested that the "Government's" enforcement actions, such as executing search warrants and jailing Andy McMechan, backfired and were "public relations and tactical disasters" that gave credibility to FFJ and were capitalized on by opportunistic farmers.  The incarceration of Any McMechan was described as "made for TV martyrdom."

In summary, the stance of FFJ has been portrayed by the media as decidedly anti-Wheat Board and at times anti-government, but Revenue Canada has not been singled out as as specific irritant to any great degree.  The department's role has been shown as enforcing the applicable legislation and not otherwise having a major rile in the overall dispute.

Strategic Role of Communications:

Should major demonstrations occur, it is proposed that the local District Manager of Communications be on site, if possible, to handle any media queries related to Revenue Canada.  It should again be noted that in past demonstrations and past media coverage, the role of the Department has been portrayed as enforcing the applicable legislation and not otherwise having a major role in the overall dispute.  The animosity of the demonstrators has been aimed at the Canadian Wheat Board and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  Therefore, we are not intending to do anything to elevate the role of the Department in this dispute in the yes of the farmers or the public in general.

In mid-December 1996, a Fact Sheet was prepared and distributed to all border ports in the Prairie Region.  This Fact Sheet details the consequences of exporting wheat or barley without a Canadian Wheat Board permit and should be prominently displayed in all ports.  This Fact Sheet should also be distributed to any individual requesting information on the consequences of participating in illegal grain exports during potential border demonstrations.  A copy of the Fact Sheet is attached.

Reponses:

The following are the proposed responses to any media queries related to any potential demonstrations:

• When demonstrations occur at Custom facilities they are managed in a way that protects the safety and security of the public, our staff and the protesters.  The RCMP are called to assist when necessary.
    

• All exports of what and barley continue to require permits from the Canadian Wheat Board.  Under the authority of the Customs Act, Revenue Canada enforces these permit requirements.
    
• Failure to comply with these requirements is a violation of the Customs Act and can result in civil penalty action including seizure of the vehicle and/or charges under the Act.

The following response is proposed for any media queries related to perceived inconsistent treatment for demonstrators:

• While the department has the anteriority to lay charges for any export of grain without the required permits, in cases where small , non-commercial quantities of grain are involved, the decision to lay charges is normally made after consultation with the Department of Justice and depends upon the circumstances of each case.

The following response is proposed for any media queries alleging that some individuals involved in previous commercial exports have not been charged.  (Note: this matter has been raised in the House of Commons in the past.):

• Investigations are on-going regarding possible previous illegal exports.  Further charges may result, depending upon the result of these investigations.

The above comments will be made only in response to media request and we are not currently intending to pro-actively issue a news release on potential demonstrations.

Other Considerations:

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