The Alberta government is giving more decision-making powers to producer organizations in an effort to reduce the need for governmental regulatory changes.
Legislative changes to Alberta’s Marketing of Agricultural Products Act made in 2020 will allow for governance changes to be made through an organization’s bylaws rather than requiring approval through the provincial Agricultural Products Marketing Council or agriculture ministry.
“It’s been in the works for a couple of years. It’s certainly top of mind. Anytime we can take matters into our own hands, that is always a positive step forward in our minds,” said Ian Chitwood, Alberta Canola vice-chair, who added it’s part of an effort to streamline processes.
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“As the government continues on their initiative to reduce red tape, Alberta Canola with the marketing council, identified an opportunity to participate in that process.”
That includes giving producer groups like the Alberta Canola Commission, as well as 19 other agricultural organizations, the ability to develop their own bylaws, such as making changes to day-to-day organizational functions that would previously require governmental approval.
“In this way, a lot of the governance activities in the organization — things like term of office, elections of directors and general rights of producers — these are now removed from regulations and placed within bylaws,” said Chitwood.
Alberta Canola currently has proposed bylaws, which it plans to present at its annual general meeting.
“It’s just going to make things a whole lot easier so we don’t have to go to the marketing council that will have to go to cabinet for changes,” Chitwood said.
“It’ll allow us to be timelier in our response to producers.”
He said the current process can result in a several month delay in receiving approval in adjusting regulations.
As for whether such changes will allow producer groups to work more closely together or even amalgamate, Chitwood anticipates it will.
“What we saw with (Alberta) Wheat and Barley Commissions, they were running separate boards but shared management for the last number of years. It was a slow merger where they were intertwined and became more and more so,” he said. “With initiatives like this, it would definitely speed up that amalgamation process.”
Chitwood said it may take some time before canola producers will notice a difference.
“But I think as time goes on, if producers know they can respond more quickly and effectively, they may take advantage of this increased flexibility within the organization. Ultimately, it’s going to empower producers.”
The full implementation of bylaws by the 20 marketing boards and commissions — which includes organizations such as Alberta Turkey Producers and Egg Farmers of Alberta — is estimated to eliminate 1,300 regulatory requirements by the end of 2025, according to the Agricultural Products Marketing Council.
