CCA Fall Fly-ins: Quebec, Ontario and Alberta

Every year, CCA hosts “producer fly-ins” in Ottawa to connect beef producers with government representatives to discuss Canadian beef industry priorities. On October 7 and 8, representatives from Ontario, Quebec and Alberta were in Ottawa at the same time. They attended meetings with MPs, Senators, and Parliamentarians, and joined the CCA Fall Reception on October 8.

Among the topics discussed were business risk management programs, tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers, trade and market access, regulatory burdens, the need for regulatory alignment with the USA and other international trade partners, and the importance of enhanced preparedness for foreign animal diseases. None of these topics were new issues, but it takes several meetings stretching over weeks, months or years and time to build momentum to effect change.

In alphabetical order of province, here are photo highlights of their meetings.

Alberta

Top left, left to right: CCA staff Sarah Creach, ABP Vice Chair Kent Holowath, MP David Bexte, ABP Chair Doug Roxburgh

Top right, left to right: CCA staff Sarah Creach, ABP Vice Chair Kent Holowath, MP Rachel Thomas, ABP Chair Doug Roxburgh

Bottom left, left to right: CCA staff Jennifer Babcock, Senator Karen Sorensen, ABP Chair Doug Roxburgh, ABP Vice Chair Kent Holowath

Bottom right, left to right: CCA staff Sarah Creach, ABP Vice Chair Kent Holowath, MP John Barlow, ABP Chair Doug Roxburgh

Ontario

Top left, left to right: Beef Farmers of Ontario Vice President Jason LeBlond, MP Lianne Rood, Beef Farmers of Ontario President Craig McLaughlin, CCA staff Gabriela Guigou

Top right, left to right: Beef Farmers of Ontario staff Evan Chaffe, Ontario beef producer Don Hargrave, MP Emma Harrison, Beef Farmers of Ontario Vice President Jason LeBlond, CCA staff Gabriela Guigou

Bottom left, left to right: Beef Farmers of Ontario Vice President Jason LeBlond, MP Pauline Rochefort, Ontario beef producer Don Hargrave, Beef Farmers of Ontario staff Evan Chaffe

Bottom right, left to right: CCA staff Gabriela Guigou, MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Beef Farmers of Ontario Vice President Jason LeBlond

Quebec

Top left, left to right: CCA staff Jarred Cohen, MP Marianne Dandurand, Quebec beef producers Kirk Jackson and Sylvain Bourque, Les producteurs de bovins du Québec (PBQ) Executive Director Steve Harrison

Top middle, left to right: Quebec beef producer Kirk Jackson, MP Yves Perron, Quebec beef producer Sylvain Bourque, Les producteurs de bovins du Québec (PBQ) Executive Director Steve Harrison

Top right, left to right: CCA staff Jarred Cohen, Quebec beef producer Sylvain Bourque, MP Luc Berthold

Bottom left, left to right: MP Jason Groleau, Quebec beef producer Sylvain Bourque, MP Jacques Gourde, Quebec beef producer Kirk Jackson, Les producteurs de bovins du Québec (PBQ) Executive Director Steve Harrison, CCA staff Jarred Cohen

Bottom right, left to right: CCA staff Jarred Cohen, MP Pierre Paul-Hus, Quebec beef producers Kirk Jackson and Sylvain Bourque, Les producteurs de bovins du Québec (PBQ) Executive Director Steve Harrison

Each meeting is an opportunity to discuss topics of national and regional importance as well as for education, relationship building and advocacy. We appreciate the producers who took time away from their families and cattle operations to visit Ottawa and share their challenges, experiences and ideas, present their regional concerns, and reinforce the national concerns and challenges that CCA has been sharing. We appreciate the Parliamentarians who accepted our meeting requests, asked insightful questions, and engaged in frank and productive discussions.

Producers were kept busy with back-to-back meetings, but there were a few opportunities to catch their breath and pause for a quick photo

Quebec beef producers Kirk Jackson and Sylvain Bourque and Les producteurs de bovins du Québec (PBQ) Executive Director Steve Harrison in the Wellington building lobby

ABP Chair Doug Roxburgh and Vice Chair Kent Holowath at the Senate in front of a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II