The Ontario Federation of Agriculture held its annual general meeting in Niagara, November 24 and 25th, 2014, where delegates from across the provinces voted in a new president and vice president.
Former vice president, Don McCabe, got the all-clear to move up to the role of president, preventing Mark Wales from a fourth and final term. Keith Currie returned for a second term as vice president, and Peggy Brekveld was voted in for her first term as vice president.
The election of two directors-at-large was far less straightforward, as it took no fewer than SIX ballots to name both directors. From a pool of nine candidates, Peggy Brekveld secured a three-year position on the third ballot, and Pat Jilesen the two-year term on the sixth, beating out existing board member Joe Dickenson.
Weighing heavy on the entire meeting was the debate surrounding neonicotinoid use and a possible ban. Most of the meeting occurred ahead of the announcement regarding neonicotinoid regulation that the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Follow this link to the announcement.
Several resolutions were brought forward at the AGM, including ones that dealt with bringing young farmers along on lobbying excursions, control of invasive species, and concerns about woodlots, land titles and more. Of note, OFA members also voted to maintain the current voting structure for president and vice president positions, that being these are voted on by the members and not by the board.
More on the resolutions will be on the OFA’s website, found here. Below are some tweets from the event.
Resolution re: election of President and Vice Presidents was lost. #ofagm14
— Glengarry Fed of Ag (@GlenFedAg) November 25, 2014
At the OFA AGM in Niagara Falls – an emotional retirement after 41 yrs with OFA from Michel Bourgon #OFAgm14
— Janet Harrop (@Harrcroft) November 24, 2014
@JeffLeal_MPP Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs addressing delegates about growth of #ontag #OFAgm14 pic.twitter.com/GE4tb87U3t
— Ont. Fed. of Agri. (@OntarioFarms) November 24, 2014
