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Industry Governance Review - Communique #5 | |
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| | Cross commodity and industry group input key to success.
From July 17, 2007 to August 2, 2007 ten regional meetings took place around the province. It was an opportunity for individuals and groups to respond to the "what we heard" presentation. This presentation is a summary of the one-on-one consultations with the boards and commissions, and other agriculture stakeholders from January to June this year. The diversity of input at the regional meeting greatly enhanced discussion about shared problems and solutions.
70 voices provided critical input.
The following organizations were represented at the regional meetings:
Alberta Agriculture and Food
Alberta Barley Commission
Alberta Beef Producers
Alberta Beekeepers
Alberta Canola Producers
Alberta Cattle Feeders' Association
Alberta Chicken Producers
Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund
Alberta Egg Producers
Alberta Elk Producers
Alberta Goat Breeders Association
Alberta Grain Commission
Alberta Hatching Eggs Producers
Alberta Pork | Alberta Sheep and Wool Commission
Alberta Soft Wheat Producers Commission
Alberta Sugar Beet Growers
Alberta Turkey Producers
Growing Alberta
Canadian Llama Association
Lucerne Foods
Next Generation Producers
Potato Growers of Alberta
Sparks Eggs
University of Alberta
Western Barley Growers Association
Western Stock Growers’ Association |
Many positive ideas were advanced in these meetings:
- Industry is willing to accept more responsibility and share decision-making with government.
- There is a strong interest among industry leaders to discuss industry governance principles and practices that collectively build the foundation of a more efficient and effective future.
- Marketing of Agriculture Products Act (MAPA) and Marketing Council need to provide opportunities that enable industry governance to be more effective, efficient, and future focused.
Producers feel alienated from government.
Stakeholders have raised questions about the role of government at every stage of the Industry Governance Review process. There is a perception that producers are alienated from government and the government has lost touch with producers’ needs. Frequently asked questions include:
- What is the government’s vision for the future of agriculture?
- What role should government play for:
- Producers?
- The general public?
- Private industry?
- How can government support farming as a business rather than as a ‘second income’ or hobby?
Learning from others presents new opportunities.
Stakeholders are trying to understand the answers to these difficult questions. The working group is looking at governance models and practices in other jurisdictions that may present some possible options/considerations for Alberta. One example, used in the United Kingdom, is where government staff work directly within industry to provide an advocacy service plus direct knowledge and expertise specific to the industry. Other models include a more enabling role for government that encourages industry self-governance. Clearly, there are great opportunities to learn from others and improve the current relationship and level of service to industry from governments.
Hearing from the silent majority is critical.
Many organizations share the challenges of disengaged membership. For example, there is difficulty getting significant numbers of members to participate in regional and general meetings. It is critical to hear from the ‘silent majority’ - the large number of Alberta producers that have not been involved in the process. Some producers are not closely tied to any formal organizations, we need to use a different mechanism to obtain their feedback and as a result, an independent survey will be conducted. If you have specific questions or areas of interest that you would like to ask this randomly selected group of producers, please send them to Freda by September 1, 2007.
We want to hear from you.
Our website offers access to communiqués, and presentations related to the Industry Governance Review. It is a great place to find more information. Please feel free to contact me or the other working group members with your concerns, questions and comments. Until next time....
Don Macyk
Chair
| The Industry Governance Review Working Group |
| Marketing Council Members |  |
Don Macyk
Kenton Ziegler
Doris Ludlage |
(780) 427-2164
(403) 947-2508
(780) 724-4118
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| Marketing Council Staff: | |
Jackson Gardner
Freda Molenkamp-Oudman
Clinton Dobson
Mike Pearson
Maryann Urbanowski |
(780) 422-1243
(780) 644-1507
(780) 422-1921
(780) 427-2164
(780) 427-1200
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| Agriculture and Food staff: | |
Bob Prather
Martine Bolinger |
(780) 427-4244
(780) 980-4230
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| Framework Partners Inc: | |
| Donna Finley (process consultant) | |
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For more information about the content of this document, contact Freda Molenkamp-Oudman.
This document is maintained by Maryann Urbanowski.
This information published to the web on August 27, 2007.
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