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HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION

To Run for Alberta Canola Regional Director

  • Download the Director Nomination Package.
  • Print the forms. (1 Nomination for Director form and 6 Appointment of Representative forms.)
  • Gather signatures from 5 canola growers in your region.
  • Ensure the nominee and each signee completes their Appointment of Representative form. (if required)
  • Submit the completed forms by October 31, 2024.

Forms must be received by the Alberta Canola Producers Commission office in writing, on or before October 31, 2024, at 4 PM. Forms can be submitted via fax, mail, or email.

Please consider submitting your forms ahead of the deadline to provide time for verification that all required elements have been included in your submission. 

To learn more about how to nominate yourself or someone else to represent the canola growers in your region, please contact Karla Bergstrom, Executive Director and Returning Officer, at 780-454-0844 or at karla@albertacanola.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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 Commission identifies the location of eligible producers by mailing address. However, the mailing address within a region does not necessarily mean that a producer either lives, farms or share crops in that region. Eligible producers may also grow canola in more than one region and have the right to specify the region of their choice for electoral purposes provided they have grown canola in that region.

Can an Eligible Producer be something other than an Individual?

An eligible producer is defined as any producer who has paid a service charge to the commission on canola sold within the previous two crop years.

If an eligible producer is not an individual, then the corporation, partnership, or organization must:

a. Appoint a representative to act on its behalf as an eligible producer in writing.

b. Notify Alberta Canola so the appointed representative can vote at the AGM, stand for nomination, or hold office.

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

    An individual can be the appointed representative for only one eligible producer.

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    Who needs to submit an Appointment of Representative form?

    This form is required if you have sold canola under a name other than your first and last name.
    Eligible Producers that are not an individual must file an Appointment of Representative form with Alberta
    Canola to appoint a representative who can assume the general rights of an eligible producer on behalf of the
    corporation, partnership, or organization (vote at the AGM, stand for nomination, or hold office.)

    How are the Commission’s Regions defined?

    The regions are identified by municipal district. View the map of the 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 up to two additional terms. Directors can serve a maximum of three consecutive terms. 

    *Except in the instance of a vacancy on the Board between scheduled elections. In this case, directors joining the board outside of Alberta Canola’s election cycles will complete the remainder of the term.

    What Procedures are Followed in Electing Alberta Canola Directors?
    • If one nomination is received for a region, then the nominee will be acclaimed.
    • If more than one nomination is received for a region, then there will be an election. An election package, with ballots designed for a secret vote, will be mailed to eligible producers for that region. Ballots must be returned to the Alberta Canola office before the defined date (usually first Friday in January).
    • If no nominations are received for a region, then Alberta Canola will call for nominations and hold an election during the Annual General Meeting. If there is a failure to elect a director at the AGM, then the board can appoint an eligible producer to be a director for that region.
    How do elections work?
    • 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.

    When are election dates in the Alberta Canola regions?

    Each year, four out of the twelve regions open for nominations. In each region, the call for nominations will happen every three years with the closing nomination date usually being the last business day of October.

    What is the Election Cycle until 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 

    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.