Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire wants the federal government to do more to get canola exports heading back to China.

In early March Richardson International, a canola exporter to China, was served with a non-compliance order from China, claiming the product was contaminated and that halted shipments to China.

Maguire wants the government to do more to get the suspension removed and to appoint a new ambassador to the country, which he says “would show Canada’s sincerity with getting the job done”.

China purchases 40 per cent of the canola Canada exports and of that figure Richardson International handles half that amount.

“We had an emergency meeting on Sunday and wanted to hear from people like Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland but she wont be appearing before the International Trade committee which is disappointing.”

However the committee will hear from Agriculture Minister Marie- Claude Bibeau and International Trade Minister Jim Carr on the canola issue during the first week of April.

“The uncertainty around canola has thrown a wrench into farmers’ seeding plans and as this issue drags on week after week spring seeding gets even closer.”

Maguire points out farmers don’t know how much canola they will be able to sell until the non-compliance issues is resolved with China.