Obama wants to merge six agencies

United States President Barrack Obama is asking Congress for authority to merge six agencies, several of them involved in programs that enhance competitiveness in export markets.

This could be good news for Canadian farmers and food companies because it might create turmoil in the ranks of people whose job it is to out-compete the farmers and food companies of other countries.

Obama says the proposal could save $3 billion over the next 10 years and would reduce the civil service by 1,000 to 2,000 people who voluntarily leave or retire.

The agencies on his hit list are:

         The business and trade operations of the Commerce Department.

         The Small Business Administration.

         The Office of U.S. Trade Representative.

         The Export-Import Bank.

         The Overseas Private Investment Corp.

         The Trade and Development Agency.

Obama is seeking fast-track approval to develop his proposal. If Congress agrees, that means that the politicians will have to vote yes or no to the complete package, and get it all done within 90 days.

We could stand to have something similar done in Canada, only not so much among federal agencies as a merger of federal and provincial agencies aiming to enhance agriculture and food exports.

Why should taxpayers be stuck with funding both? 

And while they're at it, why not eliminate provincial supply-management marketing boards in favour of one national agency for each commodity. That way quota could flow to the farmers and the places whence the marketplace gets the best quality and service. And we could end this foolish constant bickering over provincial market shares.