Bill 43

[smcgrath76]

I got this press release yesterday and have been thinking about it a bit. I am not sure how ABP and CCA will guarantee their funding base, but I know that MB has a similar policy and is very responsive. They also do not have a very big feedlot sector.
I think the procedure to reclaim checkoff will be an important one. It needs to be straightforward but not so easy that you just call and ask for your money back.
These are interesting times indeed. As far as GG and the AB gov goes, I am of the personal belief that they are heading down a path that is hurting the cow/calf producer, although maybe I am just missing the big end picture.

[grassfarmer]

I'm not sure I understand you Sean - you want the refund procedure to be straightforward but not so straightforward that a phone call will suffice? If you mean that you don't want it too easy so that the dummies who can't fill in a one page form can't get their money returned isn't that a bit elitist? These same folks, dummies or not, have been paying the mandatory levy for years. I think Bill 43 is fair - now every one gets the chance to control their checkoff dollars and this will bring greater accountability.
Here is a suggestion Farmers_son - if you want to make the refund procedure complicated and unworkable just lobby to get AFSC to implement it, LOL.

Talk about Bill 43 being undemocratic doesn't wash with me. I'm sick of going to ABP fall producer meetings where we are told the intention is for producers to air their opinions and give direction to the ABP organisation but what happens is anything but. Last year at my zone meeting the chairman of proceedings was our zone director who also took it upon himself to speak in opposition to nearly every resolution I proposed and in some cases moved a counter resolution. And this was democracy??? what a joke, it must have broken every rule of "parliamentary procedure" in the book. That kind of nonsense is what brought about GG's sweeping move to restore democracy to this defunct organisation - painting it as a feedlot operator takeover is nothing but another bogus distraction campaign to hide the truth.

[per]

Too bad the ABP didn't wake up until it was too late. Unwillingness to work with the B5 was the beginning of the end. I applaud the Minister for taking some bold steps to change the industry. It may be too little too late but what we do know is that the status quo wasn't sustainable.

[blackjack]

Peronally i find this bill to be a positive move.To many years I would go to the fall meetings liking to see change from the ABP but it was the same propaganda every year.The ABP have no one to blame but themselves.I have no problem giving three dollars to a group that will lookout for the cow-calf guy.Maybe I am just tired of a group that was using my checkoff dollars to fight battles like cool , r-calf .Instead of maybe helping cowcalf producers gain more strength in our own country by supporting producer owned packers.I believe in fixing your own problems before you worry about the guy across the fence.

[smcgrath76]

GF - What I mean is that by the way I read it a refund means you get a cheque and don't have to contribute anything to any agricultural lobby if you so choose. A method such as a phone call has no documentation of the request, so it needs to be a bit more formal.
As well, I am not sure how to stop freeloading. Currently I benefit from the policy and presence of several organizations I do not choose to support. That said some that i do and do not support may also harm or benefit my business.
I think to be fair the issue revolves around freeloading.

[rkaiser]

Didn't know how to chip in on this one.... LOL Kinda funny to hear ABP talking about democracy and plebicites....

Also kinda funny to hear the fear about control by a small group..... ABP does some good things..... Some.... But someone tell me what they have done for the cow calf producer since BSE who they have all of a sudden decided that that is the group they truly represent... LOL It was not until last year that ABP even got to a point of accepting a cow calf council let alone a cow calf committee... There have been a few feedlot boys over in the ABP camp who have been pulling a lot of strings for the last few years as well. I won't name any names that start with S.

Why no talk of the New Beef Initiative Alliance or the Western Stock Growers when spewing fear about ten big feedlots now controling the industry,,,, LOL In fact I think that ABP would be welcome to join the new Beef Initiative Alliance if they were interested. Kinda like when they were first invited to the B5 group I guess..

But hey ----- what an opportunity for ABP right now. Save some face ---- put some cold hard cash in the pockets of feedlot and cow calf producers alike.... Get the word out to all of their current members while the checkoff money is still flowing there way and tell everyone to ask the feds to settle out of court in the BSE class action case....

[perfecho]

Perhaps keep the check off in place, however give options as to where it can be funnelled.......!
How about an option to send checkoff $ to purchase a processing plant?

[grassfarmer]

rkaiser asks "ABP does some good things..... Some.... But someone tell me what they have done for the cow calf producer since BSE" - Well in the last six months they have put up a few cowboy statues.....

Just thinking Farmers_son, this may not be the disaster you predict for cow/calf producers. You say the big feedlots will hold ABP to ransom unless you promote their causes (don't you already with lobbying to up the CAIS payment threshold to $3 million?, sorry I digress..)
Here is another scenario - the big feedlots walk with their levy money regardless, leaving ABP a smaller funding base but also an organisation that could reform and truly come to represent cow/calf producers.

[per]

A smaller leaner, meaner Cow Calf lobby group that joint ventures with the feedlot association when the issues are aligned. That would work for me.

There is a Cowboy poster south of Calgary that is so far in the field that it is hard to know what it is. I think it might be a campaign to build shelters for select ranchers. My Dad has asked some of his friends when they drive by what it means to them. Most don't have a clue. One the other day said the Rancher must be selling organic products or something like that.

If the ABP leadership are as smart as I think they have potential to be. The organization will come out of this strong and useful to the industry. If they decide to dig their heels in and fight at all cost it will likely destroy any shred of credibility they have. I have polled all my ranching friend over the last year and maybe it is just my area but support for refundable checkoff is about 8 out of 10. On this site the ABP boosters with the exception of f_s are for sure silent. None of the above is scientific and maybe just an anomaly but ABP support is not quite what I heard Rick Burton say it was on the radio yesterday.

[farmers_son]

A thousand times and a thousand times more…I am not Mr. ABP. My words here represent nothing more than the concerns and hopes of an ordinary cow calf operator, just me and my family. Whoever “you” is it is not me. In these pages and elsewhere I have always spoke against large CAIS payments to mega agriculture and have always spoke in favour of caps on large subsidy payments. I have consistently raised my concerns in these pages over big feedlots and it could not be more wrong to suggest I promote the big feedlots cause, just ask BFW. I have never spoke in favour of the big packers either preferring to call them pirates and privateers and have always (for much longer than it have been a popular issue) been a strong supporter of producer packing plants (still have not figured out all the details on just how to do that however). You would have to admit that is true.

I also happen to recognize the importance of organizations like ABP that create opportunities for producers to come together to gain much needed influence and power over their futures and livelihoods. Many small check offs all together created a very influential and respected organization and all for less than ½ of 1 cent per pound or three bucks a head.

How about this scenario... And remember it was not just ABP that the government squashed with Bill 43, it was hogs and sheep too. The entire livestock sector in this province were gutted by Bill 43. With the Alberta Beef Producers, Alberta Pork and Alberta Lamb out of the way and with no or drastically restricted ability to support research, marketing or policy development the government has achieved its vision of an ALMA board controlling all aspects of livestock production in this province.

With ABP no longer able to fund national initiates and support CCA who is left? Why ALMA is left and ALMA will fund CCA and will send directors to the CCA board. Within a few years the average producer like you and me is irrelevant to anything. ALMA will (in fact the plans were announced long ago) further its aims of making much more than age verification and premise ID mandatory. Where ALMA would eventually stop is anyone’s guess but plans are already in place for mandatory tracking of cattle movements, mandatory weaning, mandatory you name it. If you need proof here is proof:

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/com12203/$FILE/AB_Livestock_Strategy_Public_Doc_June_9_2008_FINAL .pdf

See page 27….

• Mandatory Vaccination and Medication Records, July 2010;
• Mandatory Weaning Date, to be determined;
• Mandatory Movement Records by 2010;
• Mandatory Source Verification 2010;
• Mandatory On Farm Food Safety Certified, July 2013

plus the possibility of needing to be Bio security verified, animal care verified, environmental stewardship verified, attribute certified at some yet undetermined date.

With Bill 43 the government has swept away the only effective opposition to its Machiavellian scheme to control all aspects of our life. How does that scenario grab you?

Now you hopefully understand why the government would not allow livestock producers be they cattle, hog or sheep producers to have a vote through a plebiscite on a refundable check off. It is not about ABP. That is clear to me.

It is about the Government sweeping aside any potential opposition to their grand scheme to take away our ability to decide our own future and to influence our own industry for ourselves. The government does not own my farm and I do not work for the government. There is one and only one organization that the government wants to see represent producers and that organization is ALMA, plain and simple.

Why does the government not allow me to have a vote through a plebiscite on the future of our livestock organizations?

Grassfarmer: I understand people have differing views and I recall your views on a farmers right to defend his property from theft. But not allowing producers to vote for themselves is like letting the thieving government just take our livestock organizations without producers being able to put up a fight. The same government that is putting that farmer who shot the thief who was stealing his quad through the court system is the one and same government that is stealing our ability to have and fund our own livestock organizations. All Alberta Beef Producers, Alberta Pork and Alberta Lamb are asking for is a plebiscite vote so these livestock organizations can put up a fight for the futures of their respective organization. Most of us would like the opportunity to vote through a plebiscite and however the vote would go would be fine. Just like we would like to shoot any other SOB who came around stealing what is ours.