The following resolutions were debated at the January 17-19, 2023 Provincial ASB Conference.

1-23 Creation of a Mid-Level Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (AbVMA) Professional Designation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST The Alberta Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development work with the ABVMA to create a Mid- Level Veterinary Professional designation within the Veterinary Profession Act to address the rural veterinary shortage and provide mid-level supportive care to Alberta livestock producers with veterinary oversight, including but not limited to:

1. Pregnancy Checking
2. Vaccination
3. Semen Testing
4. Blood draws
5. Injections
6. Catheterization
7. Wellness checks
8. Renewing prescriptions
9. Establishing required relationship for producers to purchase prescribed medicines.

passed

2-23 Rural Veterinary Students

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BOARDS REQUEST That the Government of Alberta aid the crisis of rural veterinary shortage by directing the University of Calgary to adjust admissions to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for students from rural areas applying by providing credit for rural acuity and prioritize accepting students who intend to specialize in large animal practice and return to work in rural areas following completion of their program.

passed

3-23 Applied Research Associations Funding

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That the Ministry of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation provide sustainable operational funding to Applied Research Associations to maintain local, unbiased research and extension services that keep Alberta agriculture innovative and competitive.

passed

4-23 Grizzly Bear Population Impact on Agricultural Production

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST The Minister of Alberta Environment and Protected Areas to have BMA 2 population and density of Grizzly Bears assessed and develop a suite of programs for Agricultural Producers, like those available to agricultural producers in BMA 5, including a Provincial Grizzly Impact Mitigation Plan.

PAssed

5-23 Landowner Special License

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST that the Government of Canada Minister of Finance, with support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to include natural gas and propane as exempted fuels for agriculture production.

FURTHER THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That Alberta Environment and Protected Areas allow Landowner Special Licenses to be valid for the entirety of the season in all Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in which the applicant has deeded land.

passed

6-23 Enforcement of Water Management

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That Alberta Environment and Protected Areas provide adequate resources to support the Alberta Water Act, to ensure these contraventions are being dealt with.

passed

7-23 Campaign to Raise Awareness on the Disparity Between Consumer Pricing & Producer Revenue

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation develop a communication plan to promote awareness for Albertans regarding the disparity between the prices that agricultural producers receive for their products and the prices consumers pay.

defeated

8-23 Consideration of Municipal Environmental & Agricultural Policies for Large Scale Renewable Energy Developments on Agricultural Lands

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That when Federal and Provincial governments approve large scale renewable energy developments through quasi-judicial boards, that they consider local environmental conditions and the policies that the local municipality has in place on the development through their permitting process.

passed

9-23 Synthetic Fertilizer Emissions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That the Federal Government of Canada adopt the 4R Climate-Smart Protocol approach developed by The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) of Fertilizer Canada and provide sustainable funding into research and development regarding fertilizer use efficiency.

FURTHER THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That the federal Ministry of Environment and Climate Change suspend the 30% synthetic fertilizer emission reduction targets until the proper tools to measure emissions for producers are available.

passed

10-23 Organic Production Certification Standards and Provincially Regulated Weeds

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That Canada Food Inspection Agency add a requirement to the Canadian Organic Standards that requires the organic grower be compliant with any provincial legislation invasive species in order to achieve and maintain organic certification.

passed

11-23 Loss of 2% Liquid Strychnine

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That Health Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency make 2% Liquid Strychnine available to agricultural producers to utilize on their farms for control of Richardson`s Ground Squirrels through an emergency registration for the 2023 season and until an alternative single feed product is available.

FURTHER THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA`S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation study alternative products in part with Health Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency to replace 2% Liquid Strychnine with a viable single feed alternative product on the market on a permanent basis to agricultural producers to utilize on their farms for control of Richardson`s Ground Squirrels.

passed

12-23 Review of the Land & Property Rights Tribunal

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That Municipal Affairs establish a task force comprised of Agricultural Service Board Members, agricultural producers, experts in agricultural science, agronomy and business, as well as representatives from the oil and gas industry associations, to conduct a full review into the function and mandate of the Surface Rights components of the LPRT as directed by related legislation, with a focus on matters of, related to:

• Contractual negotiations being fully paid by energy operators,
• Implementation of mandatory mediation prior to LPRT application
• Improved timeliness of applications, and
• Clarity of terms used in the Surface Rights Act.

Passed

E1-23 Stable Regional Agricultural Extension Funding

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation make available five year stable regional funding for ASBs and their agriculture not for profit partners to hire and maintain the staff and operational costs associated with maintaining regional agricultural extension networks.

passed

E2-23 Stable Funding for Farm Mental Health

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation provides stable 5 year funding support to the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network to hire and maintain staff and cover operational costs to continue the support and services offered through AgKnow.ca.

Passed

E3-23 Supporting a Vibrant Cervid Industry in Alberta

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST That the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation support the requests of the Alberta Elk Commission to reduce regulatory processes inline with other livestock.

passed