Governance
Nominations and Elections
Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) will be accepting nominations from farmer members to serve as delegates on its four crop committees starting July 1, 2024. The nomination period will conclude on Oct. 1, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Elections are held every two years. The last election for MCA took place in fall 2022.
-
- Corn Committee – 4 open positions
- Flax Committee – 4 open positions
- Sunflower Committee – 4 open positions
- Wheat/Barley Committee – 5 open positions
-
To learn more about the roles and responsibilities of a MCA delegate, click here.
Delegates may have the opportunity to become an MCA director. To learn more about the roles and responsibilities of an MCA director, click here.
-
An Eligible Member is:
- Someone who has been engaged in the business of producing and marketing spring wheat, winter wheat, barley, corn, flax or sunflowers in Manitoba and has paid fees to the organization (check-off) in the previous fiscal year. If so, you shall be a member of the organization for the subsequent two fiscal years of the organization.
- An individual who is a member of the corresponding crop group for the committee they wish to join as a delegate.
- 18 years of age or older.
NOTE: If MCA received an application for a refund and provided that refund, the member is no longer a member during that fiscal year or during the subsequent fiscal year of the organization.
Please refer to MCA’s Bylaws for additional information on who is an eligible member and delegate eligibility.
-
Nominees must select the crop committee to which they wish to be nominated. Nominees cannot be nominated to more than one crop committee.
Nominees must be members in good standing of the crop group that they are running for to be eligible. Nomination forms must bear the signature and mailing address of at least five (5) eligible crop members who are members of the crop group that corresponds to the crop committee for which the nominee is being nominated as a delegate.
Nomination forms must be signed by the nominee to indicate the nominee’s acceptance of the nomination.
In addition to the nomination form, nominees also must submit a photo and a short (150-word maximum) biography that will be posted online and in material associated with the election process.
-
Nominations for the office of delegate shall be submitted to the MCA office on or after July 1, 2024, and no later than 4:30 p.m. CDT on Oct. 1, 2024.
To request a nomination form, contact MCA CEO Pam de Rocquigny at 1-204-745-6661 or email hello@mbcropalliance.ca.
-
- Each delegate is elected for a four-year term.
- Delegates take office following the holding of the election, as of Jan. 1.
- Delegates can serve a maximum of two consecutive, four-year terms.
-
- For each crop committee, when the number of nominees does not exceed the number of positions available for election for that specific committee, the returning officer shall declare nominees for that crop committee elected by acclamation.
- When there are more nominees than positions for a specific crop committee, an election will take place, conducted by the returning officer.
- Eligible crop members of the specific crop group for which an election is taking place can vote.
- Voting shall be by secret ballot.
- The results of the election, for each crop Committee that required an election, will be announced by Dec. 23, 2024.
- Further details on the voting procedures will be communicated to all members.
For more information on the nomination or election process, check back to this webpage or contact us by email at hello@mbcropalliance.ca or phone at 204-745-6661.
Roles & Responsibilities of an MCA Crop Committee Delegate
MCA delegates will work towards strengthening the mandate of research, agronomy, market development and access, and communication and advocacy initiatives within each of the four crop committees: corn, flax, sunflower, and wheat and barley.
-
- Focus on crop-specific issues including research, agronomy, communication initiatives, and market access and development. Roles and responsibilities of delegates include:
- Developing crop-specific research recommendations for board approval
- Reviewing all crop-specific projects and monitoring research results
- Developing crop-specific market development recommendations for board approval
- Gathering and providing grassroots feedback and member needs to the board
- Developing crop-specific agronomy and communication initiatives, including crop tours, factsheets, articles, on-farm trial projects.
- Provide advice and input to the board of directors on crop-specific policy and advocacy issues, as requested by the board
- Work with other delegates on the crop committee, MCA’s board of directors and staff to monitor, assess and revise strategic direction of organization
- Appoint delegates from the respective crop committees to sit on the board of directors, as prescribed in the governance structure
- Be diligent in carrying out their duties, which include:
- Attending crop committee meetings and other association-related meetings, as required
- Preparing for meetings by thoroughly reviewing material provided for the meeting
- Actively participating in crop committee discussion and work
- Actively participating in the organization’s annual evaluation and planning efforts
- Be MCA’s representatives to various organizations, as requested and appointed by the board.
- Aid MCA’s board of directors to seek nominations for new delegates to join the crop committee during election years
- Bring the background, skills, knowledge and experience they possess to the deliberations of the board to benefit all MCA members
- Adhere to MCA By-Laws, including the Conflict of Interest Guidelines, the Confidentiality Guidelines, and the Miscellaneous Duties and Obligations of Delegates and Directors Guidelines, as well the Directors and Delegates Code of Conduct
- Focus on crop-specific issues including research, agronomy, communication initiatives, and market access and development. Roles and responsibilities of delegates include:
-
- Two to three crop committee meetings annually. The number of meetings can vary by committee. Meetings may be in-person or through other online methods
- All Delegates Meeting (end of January to early February)
- Annual General Meeting held during the CropConnect Conference (February)
- Additional meetings if appointed to be a representative to external partner organizations
- If a delegate is appointed to MCA’s board of directors, there will be additional time commitments as outlined in the Roles and Responsibilities of an MCA Director.
-
There will be opportunities to represent MCA to external partner organizations, dependent on crop committee(s). Opportunities include:
- Keystone Agricultural Producers – various policy committees (all crops)
- Prairie Grain Development Committee – Recommending Committee Representatives (wheat, barley, flax)
- Manitoba Corn Committee (corn)
- Cereals Canada – various committees (wheat and barley)
- Grain Growers of Canada – various policy committees (all crops)
-
Becoming a delegate with MCA will provide personal growth opportunities, including:
- Development for a potential future role on the board of directors
- Networking with fellow farmers, researchers, and industry stakeholders and leaders
- Gaining in-depth understanding of the crop industries MCA represents
- The ability to attend educational and leadership-building workshops and seminars
-
MCA provides a compensatory per diem, mileage and expense package to delegates to offset the time away from the business when you are representing the members.
Roles & Responsibilities of an MCA Director
MCA directors will work towards strengthening the mandate of research, agronomy, market development and access, and communication and advocacy initiatives.
-
- Be responsible for the management and supervision of the activities and affairs of MCA, including:
- Board governance
- Strategic planning & long-term goals
- Financial and risk oversight
- Stakeholder relationships
- Research and market development oversight
- Policy and advocacy oversight
- Quality and operational performance measurement
- Oversight and management performance of the CEO
- Be appointed by MCA’s crop committees
- Be accountable to all MCA members
- Build working relationships within the organization that contribute to consensus
- Be diligent in carrying out their duties, which include:
- Attending board meetings and other association-related meetings, as required
- Preparing for meetings by thoroughly reviewing material provided for the meeting
- Actively participating in board meeting discussion and work
- Actively participating in the organization’s annual evaluation and planning efforts
- Be MCA’s representative to various organization(s), as requested and appointed by the board
- Aid in seeking nominations for new delegates to join the crop committee during election years
- Bring the background, skills, knowledge and experience they possess to the deliberations of the board to benefit all MCA members
- Adhere to MCA By-Laws, including the Conflict of Interest Guidelines, the Confidentiality Guidelines, and the Miscellaneous Duties and Obligations of Delegates and Directors Guidelines, as well the Directors and Delegates Code of Conduct
- Be responsible for the management and supervision of the activities and affairs of MCA, including:
-
- Three to four board meetings annually. Meetings may be in-person or through other online methods.
- All Delegates Meeting (end of January to early February)
- Annual General Meeting held during the CropConnect Conference (February)
- Additional meetings as required by MCA internal committee participation
- Additional meetings if appointed representative to external partner organizations
-
There will be opportunities to represent MCA to external partner organizations. Opportunities include:
- Cereals Canada board of directors appointment (two positions)
- Cereals Canada committees (various)
- Grain Growers of Canada board of directors appointment (one position)
- KAP Advisory Council (one position)
- Western Grains Research Foundation board of directors appointment (one position)
- Canadian Wheat Research Coalition board of directors appointment (two positions)
- Canadian Barley Research Coalition board of directors appointment (one position)
-
Becoming a director with MCA will provide personal growth opportunities, including:
- Networking with fellow farmers, researchers, and industry stakeholders and leaders
- Gaining in-depth understanding of the crop industries MCA represents
- The ability to attend educational and leadership-building workshops and seminars
-
MCA provides a compensatory per diem, mileage and expense package to directors to offset the time away from the business when you are representing the members.