Ontario co-operatives feeling optimistic after successful MPP reception at Queen’s Park

Article provided by Audrey Aczel, Ontario Co-operative Association communications and events manager.

MPP Daiene Vernile (Kitchener-Centre) takes a moment to learn more about
FS Stewardship programs with Claude Gauthier, GROWMARK
executive director, Ontario operations and Janice Johnson, GROWMARK
marketing and communication specialist and Ontario Co-operative
Association chair. 

Close to seventy individuals representing 36 co-operative organizations gathered at Queen’s Park last week, to help raise the profile of Ontario co-operatives to the provincial government. The event was a great success, with 46 government officials from across the three major parties in attendance, including 14 Ministers, 24 MPPs and a number of their assistants.

The highlight of the evening was the speeches by Finance Minister Charles Sousa (MPP, Mississauga South), and the three all-party Co-op Caucus co-chairs, Minister Marie-France Lalonde (MPP, Ottawa – Orléans), MPP Ernie Hardeman (Oxford) and MPP Percy Hatfield (Windsor – Tecumseh), each of whom recognized the benefits that co-operatives provide and their commitment to supporting the sector moving forward. 

Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa addresses the crowd with 

(L-R) Master of Ceremonies Simon Swail, government relations 

manager for Co-operative Housing Federation Canada, 

MPP Percy Hatfield, Minister Marie-France Lalonde and 

MPP Ernie Hardeman all taking turns to convey their solid 

support of the co-operative sector.

Peter Cameron, acting executive director and co-op development manager with the Ontario Co-operative Association was pleased with the outcome. “This extraordinary turnout of government representatives is one of the highest we’ve seen in years and is a testament that our message is being heard,” says Cameron  

  

Hosted by the Ontario Co-operative Association (On Co-op) in partnership with the Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario (CCO), the reception took place within weeks of learning that the 2017 Ontario budget included a commitment to consolidate the incorporation process for co-operatives.

Throughout the day, members of the joint government relations committee, along with representatives from Brown and Cohen Communications and Public Affairs - the consulting firm hired by the two organizations, participated in a series of pre-arranged, strategic meetings with MPPs and their staff. 

On Co-op and CCO representatives are encouraged by their joint government relations efforts thus far; and eager to take next steps in keeping the positive momentum moving forward at Queens Park.  

For more information on On Co-op government relations strategy, visit: http://www.ontario.coop/programs_services/advocacy_and_government_relations

FS Co-ops assist with international grain elevator development in Ukraine

Recently, Renee Brunelle, environmental specialist with SOCODEVI based out of Montreal, reached out to GROWMARK for expertise in grain elevator health and safety procedures and practices to help with the start-up of the first grain elevator co-op in Ukraine.

SOCODEVI is a network of co-operative entreprises and mutuals that share  technical expertise and knowledge with partners in developing countries to create, protect and distribute wealth. Working with the Canadian Co-operative Association, this specific initiative  aims to establishing grain co-operative facilities to enhance the commercial appeal of their grain and increase their marketing abilities.

Renee Brunelle SOCODEVI and Erin Byram 

at FS PARTNERS Delhi grain site.

Erin Byram, GROWMARK Ontario health and safety specialist spent a full day with Brunelle. First, at the GROWMARK Ontario region office in Kitchener, where they discussed policies and procedures followed by a tour of the Delhi elevator with FS PARTNERS operations manager Jeff House and the lead operator Brian Rutherford.

The day consisted of sharing concepts and safe practices around confined space policies and safe house-keeping efforts such as dust control and avoiding slips, trips and falls. Byram shared the power of empowering  staff. “When your employees become the champions of good health and safety, it becomes a team effort and a better environment for all involved," says Byram.  

But this isn’t the first visit to an FS site by SOCODEVI for this project. In 2013, the group toured AGRIS Co-operative’s Rochester site to learn more about operations and gain a better understanding of the co-op business model. In 2017, another visit was organized with AGRIS at its Thamesville site. 

Jim Campbell, AGRIS Co-operative general manager and 

Sergii Kurdytskyi, product manager in Ukraine at AGRIS 

Chatham office.

Adrian Van Dyk, AGRIS Co-operative operation manager, notes the differences in the size of the facility as smaller than FS operations and they specialize in mainly sunflower seeds and wheat. “It was a good sharing experience for both groups,” says Van Dyk. "Even though the operations are different in many ways, the co-operative model and principles remain a constant.”

This is just one of many similar projects. To read more about this project and others with SOCDEVI and CCA, visit: the société de coopération pour le dévelopement international.