Nominations & Elections

BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESPONSIBILITIES 

  1. Set goals and establish priorities for Alberta Canola. 
  2. Evaluate the executive director’s performance: select an executive director to be responsible for commission administration and review and evaluate their performance on an annual basis. 
  3. Ensure adequate resources: allocate adequate resources for the commission to fulfill its mission. 
  4. Manage resources effectively: assist in developing the annual budget and ensuring that proper financial controls are in place and being followed. 
  5. Determine and monitor the commission’s programs and services: determine which programs are the most consistent with the commission’s mission, and to monitor their effectiveness. 
  6. Enhance Alberta canola’s public image: ensure a comprehensive public relations strategy that clearly articulates Alberta canola’s mission, accomplishments, and goals to canola producers and garner support from important industry members. 
  7. Serve as a court of appeal: In the direst of circumstances, serve as a court of appeal in personnel matters. 
  8. Assess its own performance: Self-evaluate performance in fulfilling the commission’s responsibilities to recognize achievements and reach a consensus on which areas can be improved. 
How is Eligibility Determined?
  • To be eligible to stand for office, nominate, or vote, the person must be an eligible canola producer of the region in which the election is being held.  
  • An eligible producer is defined as any producer who has grown canola in Alberta or is entitled to a share of canola grown in Alberta under a crop share arrangement, and who has paid or submitted a commission service charge on canola sold within the past two years. 
  • Alberta farmers that grew canola under a production contract but did not pay the service charge can voluntarily submit the service charge to become eligible producers. 
  • An eligible producer is defined as any producer who has grown canola in Alberta or is entitled to a share of canola grown in Alberta under a crop share arrangement, and who has paid or submitted a service charge (levy) to the commission on canola sold within the past two years. 
  • An eligible producer may be an individual producer, or an individual appointed to represent either a corporation, partnership, or an organization other than a corporation or partnership. 
  • Alberta Canola has defined 12 regions using municipal boundaries; each region is represented by a farmer elected director. 
How are Eligible Producers Identified?

The Alberta Canola Producers’ Commission can only identify the location of any eligible producers by their mailing address. An address within a region does not necessarily mean that a producer either lives, farms or share crops in that region. Secondly, an eligible producer may grow canola in more than one region and has the right to specify the one region of his/her choice for electoral purposes, providing he/she has grown canola in that region. 

Can an Eligible Producer be something other than an Individual?

An eligible producer may be an individual, a corporation, partnership, or an organization other than a corporation or partnership. If an eligible producer is not an individual, then the corporation, etc., may appoint a representative to act on its behalf, as an eligible producer, including voting in an election, and standing for office. An individual cannot be a representative for more than one eligible producer (that is, carry more than one vote). 

If an eligible producer is: 

  • a corporation it shall appoint an individual who is a director, shareholder member, officer, or employee of the corporation as its representative. 
  • a partnership, it shall appoint an individual who is a partner or employee of the partnership as its representative. 
  • an organization other than a corporation or partnership it shall appoint an individual who is a member, officer, or employee of the organization as its representative. 

The Alberta Canola Producers’ Commission office must be notified, in writing, by an eligible producer (being a corporation, partnership or other organization) as to the appointment of its representative for that representative to be eligible to vote in an election, stand for nomination, or hold office. 

Alberta Canola does not have the ability under its regulations to appoint Directors to the Board, except in the instance of a vacancy on the Board between scheduled elections. 

How are the Commission’s Regions defined?

The twelve (12) regions are each identified by Alberta’s municipal districts. If your postal address is not located in the region where you produce canola, or share crop in the production of canola, please advise the Alberta Canola office (phone 780.454.0844 or web@albertacanola.com). 

View the map of Alberta Canola’s regions and the municipalities in each region.

How long is the term for an Alberta Canola Director?

Each director is elected for a three-year term* and can be re-elected for a second term. Directors joining the board outside of Alberta Canola’s election cycles will complete the remainder of the term. Directors can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. 

*Except in the instance of a vacancy on the Board between scheduled elections 

When are election dates in the Alberta Canola regions?

Elections are held every three years in each region with the closing nomination date usually being the last business day of October. Each year, four of the twelve regions have an election. 

Elections cycles through 2028:

2024 – Regions 3, 6, 9, 12 

2025 – Regions 1, 4, 7, 10 

2026 – Regions 2, 5, 8, 11 

2027 – Regions 3, 6, 9, 12 

2028 – Regions 1, 4, 7, 10 

Nominations for the Position of Director Must Be:
  • filed at the Commission office – 14560 116 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T5M 3E9, in writing, on or before the date set by the Board of Directors each year. 
  • signed by at least ten (10) eligible producers of the region in which the election is to be held; and, 
  • accompanied by the written consent of the eligible producer nominated as a director. 

Nomination forms can be obtained by contacting the Alberta Canola Office at 780.454.0844 or web@albertacanola.com. 

What Procedures are Followed in Electing Alberta Canola Directors?

When only one candidate is nominated, the candidate shall be elected by acclamation. For regions having elections, the elections shall be carried out by mailed ballot, designed for a secret vote. 

An eligible producer who has grown canola, or crop shared in the growing of canola in a particular region, may: 

  • stand for nomination as a candidate for director in that region; 
  • sign nomination papers of an eligible producer as a director candidate in that region; and, 
  • vote in an election for a director in that region. 
Elections:
  • Should there be a need for an election in any region, ballots will be sent by mail, to all eligible producers within that region. 
  • To be valid, ballots must: 
    • display a valid return address which will be verified to ensure that only eligible producers are voting; To be valid,
    • and, be received by the Commission office by the closing date. 
  • If the eligible producers in a region fail to elect a director by a mail ballot, the election of a director from that region may be carried out at the next annual Commission meeting that is held after the time at which election by a mail ballot was to have been held. 

For complete details on becoming a director, nomination procedures and election procedures please contact the Alberta Canola office.