Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council 2008-2009 Annual Report

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Chair's Report
On behalf of the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council, I am pleased to present our Annual Report for the 2008/2009 fiscal year.

Council is committed to enabling our twenty agricultural boards and commissions to strategically lead a prosperous agricultural industry in Alberta. Council has a key role in supporting leadership development, providing sound policy advice and administering effective legislation toward this outcome. Increasingly, corporate governance of the industry influences the economic and environmental outcomes of the global agricultural and food system. Council sees this as an important part of the knowledge and practice base of our industry. Facilitating and building relationships and networks beyond our borders represents a new dimension for future Council consideration and steps are being initiated in this direction.

Throughout the past year, Council has committed to ‘walking the talk’ in relation to effective governance practices. Council has made concentrated efforts to develop and implement effective governance practices and policies, and listening and responding to our owner (Minister) and our primary customers (boards and commissions). In an effort to increase awareness and dialogue with our owner, customers and the Ministry, several new strategies have been implemented. These include the bi-monthly information sessions with boards and commissions and Ministry staff and the regular dialogue meetings with the boards and commissions and Council. Both of these initiatives have been very successful to date and will continue in the future.

Council was also active in ensuring the review and amendment of several regulations and the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act (MAPA). The initial changes to MAPA as identified through the Industry Governance Review were completed with the passing of Bill 5. Council will continue to work with the relevant stakeholders to explore further changes to MAPA in the future as may be required to enable industry organizations in pursuing their goals.

Council has also focused on building stronger relations with our provincial and national counterparts. We have been able to implement several successful practices as a result of working together and we are committed to continuing this important work over the next years. The legislative framework nationally, regionally and provincially holds the key to industry’s ability to shape the business framework in which the agriculture and food industry operates.

2008/09 represented some of the most challenging times for some of our industry and its organizations. Council is grateful to all Alberta’s boards and commissions for their commitment to act in every way possible on behalf of their membership and their well-being.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the appointment of Jurgen Preugschas and Bruce Beattie to the Council. Council welcomed Dave Burdek to the role of General Manager in April 2008. In February 2009, Rachid El Hafid also joined the Council staff. On behalf of Council, I wish to sincerely thank all the Council members and staff for their diligent service.

Marketing Council is committed to enabling the boards and commissions to lead a sustainable, globally competitive industry. We look forward to partnering with all toward this outcome.

Sincerely,

Don Macyk

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Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council 2008-2009 Annual Report

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