The canola working group is planning to get together next week in Winnipeg.

The group was setup to resolve the market access issue affecting Canada’s canola seed exports to China.

This would be the first face-to-face meeting between the different parties involved, after a number phone interactions.

Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) CEO Rick White says they are looking at short, medium, and long-term solutions to resolve the situation with China.

"Things like existing safety-net programs, whether there needs to be some augmentation there to help farmers short-term here, buy some time as things get sorted out with China," he commented. "Things like expanding the Advance Payments Program, things like looking at AgriStability, AgriInvest to give farmers more tools and an expanded suite of tools to help them manage their businesses under the uncertain circumstances. We're also looking at market diversification ideas as well, but those are a little bit longer-term issues that we're looking at."

White is hoping a scientific discussion can be held with China to resolve the issue.

Co-chaired by the deputy minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the president of Canola Council of Canada, the working group membership includes the president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the president the Canadian Canola Growers Association, deputy ministers from the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as other senior government and industry officials.