Local cattlemen oppose restructuring provincial body

Ken Johnston
Editor

The move by the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) to restructure its board of directors reared its head again this year at the annual Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association (RRCA) meeting last Wednesday.
OCA’s attempts to restructure where voted down at the annual OCA meeting last year. However, the issue is back again this year and OCA Second Vice-president Ian McKillop was in attendance to explain the changes to the RRCA membership.
Presently there is a 49 member board meeting four times a year. Each regional Cattlemen’s Association has a seat on the board; including the Rainy River District. OCA is proposing reducing that number to 12 with one representative for Northern, Eastern and Southern Ontario being guaranteed. The Northern Ontario zone would encompass the entire region from Parry Sound north to Hudson’s Bay and west to Manitoba.
The other nine seats would be allocated to different cattle groups such as feedlot sector (3), cow-calf sector (3), one from the backgrounder sector and two directors at large.
RRCA director Peter Spuzak voiced his opposition to such a change, “With a smaller group there is a greater chance of things getting railroaded through.”
McKillop explained that the current setup is cumbersome and decision making is hampered by having so many voices at the table.
“Having a lot of people involved is slower, but I find that they tend to make the right decision. A smaller group (making decisions) is dangerous,” said Spuzak.
McKillop noted that there will still be a 49 member advisory board that will not have any power, but will offer advice on issues to the new 12 member board. The advisory board would meet twice a year, instead of four.
The RRCA introduced a resolution to leave the current OCA structure in place as it pertains to Northern Ontario. RRCA member Kim Cornell recommended rewording the resolution to say, “The RRCA supports the status quo for OCA.”
However, President Morrish said the first resolution would have to be withdrawn by the mover and seconder and amended. It was not, so he called for the vote, and it passed.
Other resolutions
•RRCA member Rick Boersema introduced a resolution asking the provincial government to hold its Ministry of Transportation accountable the same as landowners for the spreading of salt on roadways. It carried.
•RRCA supported a resolution from Lampton County asking the provincial government to subsidize the costs of nutrient management proposed in Bill 81. A motion to do so was carried.
The resolutions will now go to the annual meeting of OCA and if passed there, will be presented to the provincial government.