| | From October 19 to November 13, 2018, beef producers in Alberta will have the opportunity to vote on the service charge model used by the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP).
All cattle farmers pay the commission a $2.00 provincial service charge on each animal sold. The service charges fund research and marketing on behalf of the industry. Currently, producers can request a full or partial refund of their service charge from the ABP.
The Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council, the Alberta government agency that oversees the ABP, has announced a plebiscite to gauge producers’ opinion on staying with the current refundable model, or adopting a non-refundable model, where ABP would retain the $2.00 provincial service charge. Those who have paid a service charge within two years of the start of the vote may be eligible to cast their ballot.
A plebiscite is a vote of a group or population on a specific question or issue affecting that sector.
“The way that agricultural commissions and marketing boards have been set up under the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act allows the Marketing Council to conduct votes of producers on questions like a service charge model. Those who are on the ground are the most impacted by these decisions, and it is really important to get their perspective on how they want to see the commission operate,” said Susan Johnstone, acting general manager of the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council.
“We encourage all producers to get out and vote.” adds Norine Moore, chair of the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council. “This is your opportunity to have your voice heard on an issue that is important to the entire industry.”
Eligible producers can vote in three different ways:
- In person at polling stations at ABP Fall Regional Meetings.
- In person at any Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) office between October 19 and November 13, 2018.
- By contacting the Returning Officer by phone or email to receive a mail-in ballot at 1.855.667.3311 or AlbertaPlebiscite2018@mnp.ca.
More information on the plebiscite, eligibility criteria, and voting locations can be found at agriculture.alberta.ca/beefplebiscite, or by calling the Alberta Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276).
Contact:
Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council
780-427-2164 |
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