A director for the Manitoba Canola Growers Association could face
expulsion from the board after raising questions about how it
determines who is eligible to vote in the election of association
directors.
Director Eduard Hiebert, a grower from St. Francois Xavier, insists the
voters’ list is badly flawed and needs to be overhauled. He argues the
faulty list makes the elections undemocratic and undermines the
integrity of the association.
He lobbied for a general meeting of association members this fall to
Read Also
Organic farmers urged to make better use of trade deals
Organic growers should be singing CUSMA’s praises, according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
discuss the list and what he describes as voting irregularities during
previous elections. He was backed by a petition of about 200 MCGA
members.
But late last week, the association issued a News release
news stating the
board of directors had “reluctantly” decided to hold a special meeting
of members during the association’s annual general meeting Jan. 14 in
Brandon. The meeting will be to consider the removal of Hiebert from
the board, if he is re-elected as a director during the elections now
under way.
“In the board’s opinion, Mr. Hiebert is not acting in the best
interests of the association,” the News release
news said.
“The board has been considering this action for many months but was
loath in doing so due to respect for members’ right to elect directors
and the waste of producers’ money in calling a special meeting separate
from the (annual general meeting.)”
The News release
news lists several grievances the board has against
Hiebert. It describes him as disruptive at board meetings and faults
him for trying to direct and reprimand association staff when only the
association president and executive director are authorized to do so.
The News release
news also suggests Hiebert’s efforts to have the voters’
list reviewed and amended ignore efforts by the association to have his
concerns addressed and that his actions have incurred considerable
legal expenses for the MCGA. The issue of voter eligibility is on the
agenda for the association’s annual meeting in January.
Currently, any Manitoba grower who sold canola since May 1996 is
considered eligible to vote during the election of directors. Bruce
Dalgarno, MCGA director, said the board tried to have that eligibility
reduced to anyone who sold canola within the past two years, but
Hiebert voted against that during the last annual general meeting.
“Now, that’s what he wants.”
Hiebert said many issues the board raised against him in the news
release, “even if truthfully balanced,” are well in the past and a
smoke screen to deflect members’ attention from the real issues, namely
voter eligibility and ensuring democratic principles.
The decision to call a special meeting in January to consider his
removal is further evidence of how undemocratic the association has
become, he said.
“Their actions state very clearly that they don’t believe in the
integrity of the ballot box.”
Dalgarno said the vote on whether Hiebert should remain on the board
will be open to the membership of the association.
“We’re bringing the resolution forward. It’s the membership that will
have to make the decision.”
No one argued the fact that under the current method of deciding voter
eligibility, farmers who are deceased or who have quit farming could
still receive ballots. Hiebert said he knows of instances where
individual producers are receiving as many as six ballots to cast in
this election.
Dalgarno said association staff try to verify voter eligibility, but
have limited resources.
Eligible voters currently number about 20,000,which Hiebert regards as
far too high to be accurate.
The ballots for the election of directors were mailed in mid-November
and must be returned by Dec. 31. They will be counted before the annual
general meeting in Brandon on Jan. 14.
