Bibeau meetings highlighted Stampede 2022
The Calgary Stampede is often referred to as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” but it could also be described as the greatest gathering of politicians in Canada. No other event consistently attracts federal, provincial and municipal leaders of all political stripes quite like the Stampede. Even the prime minister rarely misses an opportunity to drop in to be part of the festivities.
This year the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions had the unique opportunity to host federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau at three separate events during the week. First, the minister spent the morning of Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the farm of Alberta Barley vice chair Roy Newman near Blackie, Alberta, just south of Calgary. Roy Newman and his wife Robin were joined by wheat and barley directors, delegates and reps, along with a few neighbours in hosting the minister. It was an opportunity to showcase the Newmans’ new seed drill, tractor, sprayer and grain dryer – and how these tools are used on a commercial scale farm.
It was also a rare opportunity for farmers to have an open and un-scripted dialogue with the minister on minimum tillage practices, 4R Nutrient Stewardship, why and how crops are sprayed for weeds, pests and disease and the impact of the carbon tax on the cost of grain drying.
Later that day, minister Bibeau spoke at a reception co-hosted by Alberta Barley and the Alberta Small Brewers Association at Born Brewing, a Calgary craft brewery and tap room. Alberta Barley chair Tara Tawyer co-emceed the event attended by politicians from various parties including John Barlow, federal opposition agriculture critic and UCP leadership candidate Brian Jean.
On Friday, July 15, 2022, minister Bibeau participated in a dialogue with Alberta’s major crop commissions – Alberta Barley, Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), Alberta Canola and Alberta Pulse Growers. Our team organized the meeting in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the minister’s office. We were represented by Alberta Barley chair, Tara Sawyer and director Sean Stanford, Alberta Wheat Commission director Devin Hartzler and the commissions’ senior manager of government relations and policy Shannon Sereda.
The meeting was an opportunity for the commissions to speak directly to the minister on topics ranging from fertilizer emission reduction targets, to concerns about potential changes to the mandate of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), to our position on the new federal-provincial agriculture policy framework on the eve of the federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers meeting the following week in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
This type of unprecedented access to a federal minister doesn’t happen by accident. It is the product of years of developing relationships with decision-makers by Shannon Sereda, who leads our government relations and policy efforts. It was through Sereda’s contacts that all three of the events – the visit to the Newmans’ farm, the minister’s appearance at the reception at Born Brewing and the meeting with the four crop commissions - became a reality.
It is also due to the efforts of our communications and events team led by Megan Evans that allows us to deliver on these initiatives while also managing our booth presence on the Stampede Grounds and organizing an Alberta Barley board meeting – all in the same week!
In addition to the events with the federal minister, Sereda and AWC vice chair Jason Lenz attended a round-table with Alberta agriculture minister Nate Horner during Stampede week where the discussion focused on the new ag policy framework. A number of staff and directors also attended a reception hosted by NDP leader Rachel Notley.
Stampede week always provides an opportunity for the commissions to lobby politicians but in 2022, thanks to the collective efforts of our staff, directors, delegates and regional representatives, we took it to a new level. We can’t wait for next year.