The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has come under fire in the last two years for its performance during the BSE crisis. At the same time, it is being asked to do more for the industry.
The organization has a $1.2 million budget with which to accomplish these goals and a delegate at the recent Alberta Beef Producers annual meeting said it’s not enough.
“We have to give them the ability to do the job that needs to be done,” said Stuart Thiessen of Strathmore.
ABP finance chair Travis Toews said the CCA will have a better sense of the resources it needs after a review of the national organization is completed. While there may be an increase in provincial assessments, Toews said the Alberta checkoff of $3 per animal sold will not be raised.
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“Alberta has high expectations of the CCA and we recognize in the interim, CCA has some severe funding challenges.”
ABP will contribute $710,000 to the CCA in 2006-07, up from its provincial assessment last year of $598,764. That is nearly double the next contributor, Saskatchewan, at $225,275. Ontario was third at $165,344.
Because the assessments are based on cattle numbers, Alberta contributes the most money and receives seven seats on the CCA’s 27-seat board.
Other provinces may need to contribute more, said Hugh Lynch-Staunton, CCA vice-president and a rancher from southwestern Alberta.
“If we want to get this right … there is a lot of important work that isn’t going to be done.”
While delegates at the ABP meeting agreed on the importance of a strong national organization, some said if they provide more money they should have more power on the board to reflect that contribution.
Membership among the provinces is voluntary and the national organization has no direct access to funding, said CCA executive vice-president Dennis Laycraft.
The association has already expanded its Ottawa office and is sending trade analyst John Masswohl to the United States more often to monitor activities there. Another analyst, Ryder Lee, has been added.
The CCA is also building a $1 million reserve fund to deal with future trade actions or other problems. American groups such as the protectionist R-CALF continue to raise money and will not go away, Laycraft said.
