2008 District Meeting Resolutions

District 11
1 - Permanent Crop Residue Freight Assistance Program
Whereas crop residue burning causes pollution and damages both the environment and human health,
Be It Resolved that MCPA advise the provincial government to mandate a yearly freight assistance program for crop residue and encourage crop producers not to burn their stubble.

2 - Deferred Livestock
Payments
Be It Resolved that MCPA lobby the federal and provincial governments to legalize deferred livestock payments.

3 - Use of Cyanide Guns for Problem Predator Control
Whereas problem predator incidents are increasing and resulting damage and loss to livestock is on the increase,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the federal and provincial governments to reintroduce the use of cyanide guns for problem predator control in Manitoba.

4 - Reaffirm MCPA Policy Number 2007.04 (Improving Problem Predator Removal Program)
Be It Resolved that the MCPA reaffirm policy number 2007.04 (Resolution 9 from the 2007 AGM) regarding improvements to the provincial problem predator removal program.
MCPA Policy Number 2007.04: Improving Problem Predator Removal Program
Whereas the current Problem Predator Removal Program has some serious flaws that need to be addressed,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the Provincial Government to establish the following:
1. A fee be established for $300.00 per wolf and $50.00 per coyote,
2. Eliminate the 24hr. limit on the trapping permit,
3. That a long term commitment be made for funding this program.
5 - Improve Provincial Problem Beaver Program
Be It Resolved that MCPA lobby the provincial government to improve the existing Problem Beaver Control Program by adequately compensating producers for damages caused by beavers.

District 10
6 - Retain Manitoba Forage Assistance Program for Future use
Whereas the burning of straw is not a suitable use of straw as a resource, and
Whereas the Elie Isoboard plant is no longer in operation to make use of this resource,
Be It Resolved that MCPA request that the province retain the Manitoba Forage Assistance Program for the foreseeable future to encourage the removal of straw out of stubble burning areas of the province to be used as feed instead.

7 - Transfer Departmental Responsibility for Crown Lands to MAFRI
Whereas provincial responsibility for Crown lands has been allotted to three different departments in the provincial government,
Be It Resolved that MCPA request that provincial responsibility for Crown lands revert to Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives.

District 3
No Resolutions

District 9
8 - Changes required to AgriStability Program
Whereas both the old CAIS and new AgriStability programs do not work for cattle and other livestock producers,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA and CCA formally request that the federal and provincial governments move immediately on making the necessary changes to CAIS/AgriStability to enable these programs to work for cattle producers.

District 4
9 - TB Related Deer and Elk Depopulation in Southeast Manitoba
Whereas bovine TB has been detected in cattle herds in Northern Minnesota, and
Whereas the State of Minnesota has responded to the outbreak of bovine TB with targeted wildlife depopulation measures as part of its overall bovine TB Management Strategy,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the Province of Manitoba to conduct a depopulation of the deer in southeast corner of the province as well as establish a hunting season for elk in southeast Manitoba.

10 - Provincial Reporting System for Cattle Market Prices
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the provincial government to establish a better and more accurate reporting system for the market prices of cattle sold in Manitoba.

District 2
11 - End the Exclusion of Grazing Practices from MASC Wildlife Compensation
Whereas there is a clear need for the provincial government to promote better management practices in Manitoba such as bale grazing, standing corn grazing and swath grazing,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the provincial government to end the exclusion of bale grazing, standing corn grazing, swath grazing and other management practices from the MASC wildlife insurance program.

12 - Reaffirm MCPA Policy Number 2007.05 (Remote Electronic Review of CCIA Data)
Be It Resolved that the MCPA reaffirm policy number 2007.05 (Resolution 10 from the 2007 AGM) regarding the remote electronic review of CCIA data.
Whereas CCIA has a database system for identifying cattle in Canada,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby CCIA in order for individual producers who have purchased CCIA tags to have the ability, by entering individual PIN numbers, to review the data for the calves they have produced (e.g., carcass data which would assist producers to evaluate genetics of their herd).

District 5
13 - Reaffirm MCPA Policy Number 2007.4 (Improving Problem Predator Removal Program)
Be It Resolved that the MCPA reaffirm policy number 2007.04 (Resolution 9 from the 2007 AGM) regarding improvements to the provincial problem predator removal program.
MCPA Policy Number 2007.04: Improving Problem Predator Removal Program
Whereas the current Problem Predator Removal Program has some serious flaws that need to be addressed,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the Provincial Government to establish the following:
1. A fee be established for $300.00 per wolf and $50.00 per coyote,
2. Eliminate the 24hr. limit on the trapping permit,
3. That a long term commitment be made for funding this program.

District 13
14 - Beaver Dam Removal on Crown Lands
Whereas current beaver removal programs in Manitoba are unable to target the problems with beaver dams on Crown land properties,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the relevant provincial government departments (MAFRI, Manitoba Conservation, and MIT) for the removal of beaver dams on the Garland Point River Watershed and other problem watersheds.

15 - Expansion of Kill Permits for Dangerous Problem Wildlife
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the provincial government for the establishment of a kill permit for problem wildlife not presently included within current problem wildlife management programs but nonetheless pose a threat to property, food safety and livelihood.

16 - Ban on use of All Animal Byproducts in Ruminant Feed
Be It Resolved that MCPA lobby the federal government to ban the feeding of animal byproducts such as porcine meal, feather meal, poultry meal, and animal fat to ruminants, and
Be It Further Resolved that in the absence of such a ban, that the federal government be asked to require that the sale of all feeds include a list of ingredients as well as a statement as to the types of animal products used in the feed mill, and
Be It Further Resolved that the federal government require all trucks transporting animal byproducts be washed out in between loads to prevent cross contamination.

17 - Feed and Livestock Production Insurance Programs
Whereas existing production insurance programs for cattle producers’ feed sources such as hay are not effective or sufficient, and
Whereas the livestock production insurance program promised by both provincial and federal governments in 2003 as part of the Agricultural Policy Framework still does not exist under Growing Forward, and
Whereas feed and livestock production insurance program is an essential building block under the APF/Growing Forward for the AgriStability program to work effectively for cattle producers,
Be It Resolved that MCPA continue to lobby both levels of government for workable and effective production insurance programs for cattle producers that will insure both feed sources and livestock.

District 14
No Resolutions

District 12
18 - Beaver Dam Removal Program Compensation
Whereas the current Beaver Removal Program compensation fee of $15 is inadequate to properly deal with the beaver problem,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the provincial government to increase the Beaver Removal Program compensation amount from $15 to $50 per beaver in order to cover actual costs, and
Be It Further Resolved that the MCPA lobby the provincial government to have Beaver Removal Program compensation be solely administered by the Department of Conservation.

District 7
19 - Increase Elk Hunting Areas
Whereas elk that pose a risk of disease and property damage are traveling in larger numbers outside of the current hunting zones in Manitoba,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the provincial government to increase elk hunting areas beyond the current hunting zones in order to mitigate the risk of disease and property damage from elk.

20 - Government Funding for CCIA Tags
Whereas BSE and other diseases are a food safety issue, and
Whereas the cost of ID tags are a financial burden to the producer,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the provincial and federal governments to cover the cost of CCIA tags for producers.

21 - Municipal Expropriations
Whereas municipalities have set a precedent by expropriating land beyond what has traditionally been understood as a public need (i.e., roads and sewage lagoons),
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the provincial government to change the Municipal Act to prevent municipalities from expropriating land and improvements for the purpose of economic development, including but not limited to, engaging in a business-related or industry-related undertakings.

22 - Trade Challenge Against COOL
Whereas Canada, the U.S., and Mexico each signed a NAFTA trade agreement, and
Whereas U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) legislation and regulations are a contravention of this trade agreement,
Be It Resolved that the MCPA request CCA to press the federal government immediately on launching a trade challenge to COOL under either NAFTA or WTO rules.

District 6
23 - Gopher Control Program
Be It Resolved that the MCPA lobby the provincial government for a gopher control program whereby producers can purchase bait and are eligible for reimbursement of 50% of bait costs.

District 1
No Resolutions

District 8
No Resolutions