Alberta farm marketing organizations are applauding the Province of Alberta for new amendments eliminating redundant paperwork-intensive regulations for agriculture marketing boards and commissions (MBCs).
Called a “red tape” cutting measure in a July 31 provincial government news release, the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council — the supervisory public agency for Alberta’s 19 agriculture MBCs — is deleting 28.5 per cent of regulations pertaining to these MBCs.
This includes 20 foundational rules that overlapped with existing requirements.
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“Alberta’s agriculture producers deserve to focus on what they do best, feeding our province and the world,” wrote Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson in the release.
“By cutting unnecessary red tape, we’re giving them more time to grow their businesses and less time buried in paperwork.”
The move builds on changes made to Alberta’s Marketing of Agricultural Products Act (MAPA) in 2020 and enacted in 2022. These granted MBCs the right to develop their own bylaws.
Marketing groups give thumbs-up
Jake Kotowich, general manager of the Agricultural Products Marketing Council, explained the streamlining in an email.
“Before the amendments, MBCs’ regulation-making authorities were laid out in separate ‘authorization regulations’ — one for each MBC,” he wrote.
“Because of MAPA amendments in 2023, those authorities are prescribed directly in the MBCs’ plan regulations, which meant the authorization regulations were no longer relevant or needed.
“To clarify, repealing the 20 authorization regulations did not give MBCs new powers they didn’t already have. Instead, they change how those powers are granted,” continued Kotowich, adding the deletion of these 20 regulationss makes the regulatory process timelier and more efficient.
“The structure is more flexible, supporting decision-making while maintaining (provincial government) oversight. This is all part of a broader effort since 2020 to reduce regulatory burden and modernize the framework for agricultural governance in Alberta.”
Even though there are only 19 MBCs in the province, 20 authorization regulations were cut. The 20th belonged to Alberta Barley, which merged with Alberta Wheat to form Alberta Grains in 2023.
While admitting he still needed to work through the changes, Andre Harpe, chair of Alberta Canola Producers Commission, recognized the streamlining as a positive move set to help MBCs become more efficient.
The immediate benefit to Alberta’s canola producers, said Harpe, is that the changes allow the grower group more time to focus on member concerns.
“It’s going to give Alberta Canola more time on some of the needs that farmers are looking for right now.”
Shane Strydhorst, chair of Alberta Pulse Growers Commission, praised the amendments.
“The streamlining of regulatory processes allows Alberta Pulse Growers Commission to work more efficiently on behalf of Alberta farmers toward our vision of pulses on every farm, on every plate,” he wrote in the Province’s news release.
Brad Dubeau, general manager of Alberta Beef Producers (ABP), said the changes “reflect a modern, responsive approach to agricultural governance.”
It also builds on what APB has already been doing.
“In addition to aligning with the amendments made to MAPA in 2020, ABP took the opportunity to make administrative adjustments that enhance transparency and efficiency,” wrote Dubeau in an email.
“We’re proud to align with MAPA’s amendments and strengthen our administrative framework.”
Marketing council still involved
Janelle Hancock, a senior manager with the provincial marketing council, says this streamlining should not be misinterpreted as the government stepping away from oversight of these ag MBCs.
“There’s still oversight from the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council. That hasn’t been changed,” said Hancock.
“That oversight is still there to supervise activities … While they (the MBCs’) are bylaws, they still have to be approved by council as an oversight body. That structure is pretty common across Canada with other supervisory agencies.
“The only thing that shifted with these most recent changes is we got rid of 20 regulations that weren’t any longer necessary because we fixed the clauses that required those regulations.
“So there’s still lots oversight for the marketing council. The (agriculture) minister still has to approve plan regulations. The minister is still in charge of the marketing council as a public agency, and then there’s still marketing and commission regulations that these organizations have in addition to their bylaws.”
