One of the hottest issues to arise at the annual meeting of the Ontario Pork marketing board was the selection of a non-board member to be one of two Ontario delegates to the Canadian Pork
Council.
The board changed its policy from two board directors to fill the positions to one board member and one producer chosen from the membership ranks.
During the debate it emerged that five current board directors expressed an interest in being a delegate.
A few debaters made it clear that they believe James Reesor, a producer from the Niagara area, is a good delegate who is well informed about national pork-industry issues.
But those who wanted the board to revert to choosing only board directors said they want somebody who is well informed about Ontario industry issues and able to brief the Ontario board about developments at the national council.
The Ontario board forwards about $960,000 in annual fees to the Canadian Pork Council.
The vote was 44 to 24 to revert to the policy of choosing only board directors as delegates.
CYBER SECURITY
The vote was 36 to 31 in favour of a Perth County resolution asking the pork board to hire an expert in computer security to determine the degree of risk among producers and to provide advice about protecting against hackers.
Some said that’s something that ought to remain the responsibility of individual producers.
ONTARIO SWINE IMPROVEMENT
There was an Oxford County resolution noting that funds from the former Ontario Stockyards have restrictions on their use that Ontario Swine Improvement may not meet. In the end, the delegates approved an amended resolution that leaves it to the pork board to discuss the issue with Ontario Swine Improvement Inc.
OSI will need to demonstrate that the funding it receives from the sale of the stockyards needs to be used for research to benefit the general population of Ontario hog producers.
SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
A Bloc Quebecois Member of Parliament, in a fight to retain his riding, has introduced a private member’s bill to prevent Canada’s trade negotiations from making any concessions that harm the interests of quota-holding dairy and poultry farmers.
While debaters said they realize this is pure politics, and not likely to become Canadian policy, they want MPs to know that the pork industry wants trade negotiators to improve market access for Canadian pork industry exports.
But some of the debaters also made it clear that their opinions about trade negotiations differ sharply from supply-management farmers.
They said it’s fine for supply management to speak up for its interests, but it should also be fine for pork producers to speak up for theirs.
Stuart Skinner of Perth County threw the cat among the pigeons when he said supply management producers compete with pork producers when a neighbourhood farm comes up for sale.
PRODUCER DEFINITION
Perth County introduced a resolution to narrow the definition of a member of the pork board to exclude those who have no ownership in the industry, such as renting a farm and producing hogs on contract.
While there was general agreement that those eligible to vote and to hold office in the pork board should be committed to the industry and have skin in the game, there were some who noted that retired parents could have 40 years of experience in hog production and time available to serve.
