Calgary, Alta. (Rural Roots Canada) – The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) and Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) have reached an interim participation agreement allowing Alberta producers to maintain their voice in national cattle industry discussions.
Under the interim agreement, ABP will provide gap funding to support the CCA from July 1 to August 31, 2026. During that time, ABP’s elected representatives to the national organization will take part in meetings and discussions as non-members.
The agreement follows CCA’s agreement-in-principle to bylaw reforms recommended by the Provincial Working Group, which includes representatives from each of CCA’s provincial member organizations. These recommendations will be presented again for approval at CCA’s Semi-Annual Meeting in August.
“The interim participation agreement is important to maintain Alberta’s voice in national advocacy and policy discussions,” says CCA President Tyler Fulton. “The proposed bylaw revisions represent necessary evolution for our 94-year-old organization, and the board and provincial member associations are confident that we are positioning our organization for continued and improved success advocating on behalf of all Canadian cattle producers.”
ABP Chair Doug Roxburgh says the organization values the work done by the provincial working group in developing recommendations for the national association.
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“The interim participation agreement gives Alberta a voice as the conversations around organizational evolution continue at the national level,” he says. “We look forward to the results of the CCA’s Semi-Annual Meeting in August, and the conversations that follow at ABP through our Producer Meetings in the fall and Annual General Meeting in December.”
Both organizations said they are committed to maintaining clear communication with their respective stakeholders throughout the interim participation agreement.
The agreement comes nearly a year after Alberta Beef Producers announced it would withdraw its membership from the Canadian Cattle Association, citing concerns over fiscal transparency, governance and communications. At the time, ABP said membership in a national organization must deliver clear value to Alberta cattle producers and argued the CCA was not meeting that standard. ABP also noted it was contributing more than 50% of the CCA’s budget through Alberta’s service charge.
Despite the decision to leave, ABP maintained it would continue representing Alberta producers at the provincial, national and international levels and honoured its funding commitment to the CCA through June 30, 2026.
