Agendas and Minutes of the ASBPC
Terms of Reference for the ASBPC
About Us
In 2004, a review of the ASB Program was initiated by resolutions from the ASBs, what is now the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and the provincial government. At the time the province was closing down rural agriculture offices, and reducing the number of provincial staff in municipalities. The concern was that many of the functions from those provincial offices would now fall to the municipal ASBs.
The result of the 2004 review was an increase to the funding to ASBs, and the formation of the ASB Provincial Committee to meet with the Minister who has the agriculture portfolio on an annual basis. In 2005 the Provincial Resolution Committee became the ASB Provincial Committee. By 2007, Committee members had adopted two year terms and started producing the annual Report Card on the Resolutions. The province hired an ASB Specialist to support the work of the Committee.
The Committee continues to meet annually with the Minister since 2005 and is now recognized as a valuable resource to the province regarding matters impacting agriculture in rural municipalities. In 2015 the ASB Specialist position was eliminated, and the Committee has applied for grants from the province to hire an executive assistant. The work of the ASB Provincial Committee continues to evolve.
Purpose
The purpose of the ASBPC is to achieve a collective voice for Agricultural Service Boards across Alberta that would facilitate and represent both the diversity and commonalities of ASBs. Through this collective voice, additional objectives can be achieved including better information and stronger communication back to ASBs about current issues and government policy direction and a regional representative voice that The Ministry may call upon for input during policy or program review and development. The ASBPC also serves as an advisory committee to the ASBs throughout the province and to The Ministry.
Authority
The Committee has authority to request meetings with the Minister who has the agriculture portfolio on a semi-annual basis or as needed to discuss the responses to the resolutions and other items of mutual concern. They may also request meetings with senior staff of various departments, Ministers from other GoA ministries and other government committees, such as the Rural Development Committee, as needed to discuss issues related to resolution responses and other issues relevant to ASBs.
The Committee has authority to review and approve resolutions received from the Regional Meetings for debate at the ASB Provincial Conference and to set the order of debate for approved resolutions at the ASB Provincial Conference. This may include requesting clarification from the sponsoring ASB regarding wording or intent, amalgamating resolutions similar in nature or requesting the withdrawal of the resolution.
The Committee has authority to hire an Executive Assistant, contingent on need and availability of funding.
A more comprehensive description is available in our Terms of Reference document.
