The success of our work can often be attributed to our focus on relationships. The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) puts significant effort into investing and building relationships within our industry, the broader agricultural community and with policymakers and influencers here at home and on the world stage, to help advance the priorities of Canadian cattle producers.
The start of a new year sees CCA’s engagement with industry stakeholders ramp up with numerous meetings, conferences and events taking place. During the pandemic, we discovered new virtual ways to connect, but nothing beats the value of face-to-face interactions, a simple handshake, or productive conversations over dinner or a cup of coffee.
Over the next few months, CCA board members and staff will be travelling across the country to attend the AGMs of our provincial member associations. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to share updates on the work undertaken by CCA, answer questions from grassroots producers and engage in meaningful discussions to better understand the concerns of producers from a regional perspective. These insights, coupled with the perspectives shared by our board members, help guide the development of policy priorities that meet the needs of producers across the country. This engagement is very timely, with our AGM just around the corner in March.
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Mid-January also saw a delegation from the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) program and the Canadian Cattle Youth Council visit Denver, Colorado. This trip, planned in co-ordination with the Consulate General of Canada in Denver, included meetings, site visits and networking opportunities to build alliances, advancing Canada’s advocacy priorities especially when it comes to the importance of trade between our two nations, and fostering co-operation between our industries. This year’s delegates also had the opportunity to take in the National Western Stock Show and participated in sessions at the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association Mid-Winter Conference.
This annual trip to Denver is an excellent opportunity for our industry’s future leaders to learn more about beef and cattle trade between Canada and the U.S. and start forging relationships with their counterparts south of the border. A special thanks goes out to the Consulate General of Canada in Denver for their work building an interesting program for our young leaders and providing funding to help support their travels.
If you know of anyone who would benefit from these types of experiences, please encourage them to consider applying to the Canadian CYL program. Applications are now open for the 2024-25 program year. Please visit www.canadiancattleyoungleaders.ca for more details.
To round out our engagement efforts in January, I had the opportunity to travel to Orlando, Florida, along with Tyler Fulton, CCA vice-president and CCA staff, to participate in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) convention and trade show. In the U.S., this is where the American beef industry meets annually to learn, network and advocate. It’s the perfect venue for us to learn more about the issues facing American cattle producers, better understand the policy discussions happening in the U.S. and how they could have an impact on our industry, and engage in bilateral and trilateral discussions on topics of mutual interest with the leadership teams of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in the U.S. and the Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas (CNOG) in Mexico.
One issue we are collectively keeping our ears to the ground on is the amended rule for the voluntary “Product of the USA” label, which is expected to be released in the next few months. CCA has worked alongside the Government of Canada to express our concerns with this proposal. Earlier last year, we submitted a formal response to the proposed amendments, but we realize that our best allies are American cattle producers who share our concerns about how the proposed amendments to this rule can negatively affect the integrated nature of the North American beef supply chain and disrupt the flow of cattle between our countries. It is through conversations with our fellow beef producers south of the border that we can find solutions to common problems. These conversations have continued with producers at state meetings held in late 2023 and early 2024. We are monitoring this regulation and will oppose any disruptions to our integrated beef supply chain.
As Parliament resumed in late January, our trade file continues to be at the forefront with Bill C-282: An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management) in the Senate. As this private member’s bill moves through the Senate, CCA is steadfast in our advocacy efforts against this bill. Outreach efforts with senators and raising the alarm through our communications channels will continue until this bill is defeated. These efforts will be further amplified through our partnership with like-minded organizations whose industries are trade-dependent. We encourage beef producers to share personal videos explaining why trade is important to their operation and how Bill C-282 is detrimental to the growth and sustainability of our industry. Please send your videos to [email protected].
Another key trade priority will be the “Say No To A Bad Deal” campaign to oppose the U.K.’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. This agreement is a bad deal for beef producers as it leaves significant non-tariff barriers in place that will prevent us from fully exporting to the U.K. The Canadian beef industry will continue to oppose this deal until this issue is resolved.
Our industry depends on science and rules-based trade. We need to stand up for free and open trade principles and we are doing so by showing up and actively participating in these crucial discussions. Trade is essential to the growth and future sustainability of our industry. c
Nathan Phinney is president of the Canadian Cattle Association.
