As Christmas draws near, it’s a time to reflect on the year we’re leaving behind and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. While December is a time for family, tradition, and celebration, it’s also when growers begin to finalize plans for the growing season ahead. To support the success of all Alberta canola growers this coming year and beyond, I’m reaching out to ask for your participation in a crucial decision for Alberta Canola.
At our Annual General Meeting this January, we will be asking members to support an important resolution to increase Alberta Canola’s refundable service charge from $1 per tonne to $1.75 per tonne.
This is the first increase we’ve proposed in over two decades, and it’s one that your Alberta Canola board has carefully considered over the past year.
The decision to ask for a service charge increase was not taken lightly. Our Board of Directors reached this proposal only after a comprehensive evaluation, including independent financial analysis, rigorous forecasting, and ongoing dialogue with growers like you.
Why now?
The last time Alberta Canola raised its service charge was in 2003. Since then, agricultural operating costs have surged, research funding from public sources has dropped dramatically, and the regulatory environment has intensified. Meanwhile, canola production in Alberta has flattened by 25% from its 2017 peak. These pressures have created a tough reality: Alberta Canola has faced budget deficits in five of the past six years. We’ve made cuts, increased efficiency, and stretched every dollar to protect our programs, but to maintain our core mission, our growers now need to act.
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