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Chair's Report
On behalf of the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council, I am pleased to share our Annual Report for the 2009/2010 fiscal year.
Council’s role in working with Alberta’s 21 agricultural boards and commissions has evolved into three key areas: 1) facilitating and partnering in governance excellence, 2) supporting enabling legislation and regulations, and 3) providing policy advice to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and industry organizations. These areas are synonymous with Council’s strategic priorities and are based on a commitment to listen and use formal and informal processes to gather input locally, nationally and internationally. Council believes these priorities are what is right for this time. As time passes and new expectations are developed for working in partnership with industry and government, I expect that Council’s role will also continue to evolve.
Council has taken a key role in supporting governance and leadership development. Council sponsors learning opportunities for industry organizations that recognize the need and importance of having effective governance practices. In 2009/2010 fiscal year, Council hosted seven governance workshops with the support of Growing Forward funding. The learning and experience gained at these workshops led to practice change at an individual and organizational level. Knowledge and adoption of effective governance practices will help ensure our industry leads with purpose and clear focus.
Alberta’s 21 agricultural boards and commissions are enabled by legislation and supporting regulations. Council’s role is to partner with boards and commissions to address the issues and challenges of building a prosperous agricultural industry. All relevant stakeholders have a responsibility to ensure that industry organizations are supported by the best enabling legislation and regulations to meet the complex needs of our agricultural industry.
Providing sound policy advice is a commitment that Council has made to both our owner (the Minister) and our customers (the 21 agricultural boards and commissions). Utilizing Issue Teams, Council has applied all necessary due diligence to provide policy options for government and/or industry consideration. Decisions that are based on sound policy advice and extensive research and analysis provide a greater level of confidence that the results will support the intended outcomes.
Occasionally, Council has challenged stakeholders to focus on the strategic priorities that are key to their sector. The role of boards and commissions continues to grow and, in my view, will need to further evolve to ensure the necessary conditions exist for success in specific sectors and the overall agricultural industry. Regional and national organizational structures must support the competitive position and well-being of provincial boards and commissions, and with enabling legislation and harmonization across provincial and federal boundaries, this can be achieved over time.
I have had the privilege of serving as Council chair for the past six years and I wish to recognize all those who have worked hard in building our industry’s organizational capacity. I have witnessed the commitment of our agricultural industry and its organizations in making required changes, working together collaboratively, co-creating solutions, and taking the leadership challenge to face the future. My sincere thanks to the boards and commissions, fellow Council members and a superb staff for being part of the journey.
Till we meet again,
Don Macyk
To read the full report, download this PDF (707 KB) |
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