Resolutions Approved at the MBA AGM 16 November 2011
See each resolution for its’ status or associated board action.
1. TEMPORARY WORKERS
WHEREAS Western Canada has a growing and fundamental need for temporary foreign workers to maintain a healthy honey industry, and
WHEREAS the Canadian honey industry will not function to its full potential without temporary foreign workers that can be accessed in a timely and forthright manner and,
WHEREAS recent changes to the Foreign Worker application process are not fully understood by Federal Government staff nor producers,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That MBA encourage CHC to lobby Agriculture and Agri Food Canada (AAFC) and Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) to instruct or train staff to be more supportive of Canadian beekeepers requests for qualified temporary foreign workers, plus streamline the application process.
a) December 8, 2011 this item assigned to Canadian Honey Council for presentation at their January 26, 2012 meeting.
2. MORE PEST TREATMENTS
WHEREAS Manitoba producers continue to face high overwinter losses, and
WHEREAS producers continue to be concerned about the limited number of options for varroa mite and/or virus control,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA continue supporting evaluation of a variety of treatments to address specific needs within the Manitoba environment.
a) December 8, 2011, this item referred to MBA Pest and Pest Management Committee.
b) March 14, 2012, MBA requested PMRA to provide Emergency Use Registration of Apivar as another option to the recently approved Formic Acid (MAQS) varroa treatment.
c) July 2012, Pest Management Regulatory Agency provides conditional full registration approval of Apivar effective July 2012. Product available for producers and label revised for use. E-mail message sent to Manitoba producers identifying approval.
3. GROUP FIRE INSURANCE
WHEREAS Manitoba producers infrequently face losses due to fire, and
WHEREAS some insurance companies may be reluctant to follow through on new replacement items lost or damaged in a fire and,
WHEREAS often insurance companies offer economical coverage for members of a group,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA determine if an insurance company could provide a quote on a suitable group policy as a MBA membership benefit.
a) December 8, 2011, this assigned to MBA Safety Net Committee for evaluation of options. Possibility of March 2012 Workshop to evaluate options and current gaps with members of MBA.
4. MULTIPLE EMERGENCY USE PRODUCTS
WHEREAS Manitoba producers may have specific weather or bee pest situations and,
WHEREAS producers may desire more options for treatments deemed easier to use,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA have Canadian Honey Council encourage Pest Management Regulatory Agency to permit multiple Emergency Use Registrations for the Honey Bee Industry.
a) December 8, 2011, item referred to Canadian Honey Council for consideration at their January 27, 2012 meeting.
5. EXPEDITE BEEOLOGICS PRODUCTS
WHEREAS Current Honey Bee virus control research at University of Manitoba appears promising using an “RNAi” technology similar to that of Beeologics and,
WHEREAS Monsanto has recently acquired control of Beeologics,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That MBA approach Canadian Honey Council to encourage Monsanto to expedite availability of Beeologics products used for virus control in the Honey Bee Industry.
a) December 8, 2011, this referred to Canadian Honey Council for consideration at their January 26, 2012 meeting.
6. REMOVE HIVE CAP FOR CHC LEVY
WHEREAS current MBA regulations exempt levy amounts above 1000 colonies and,
WHEREAS Canadian Honey Council hive levy for 2012 will increase to $0.13/colony,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that MBA seek regulation changes to permit applying Canadian Honey Council levy to producers with 1001 or greater colony count.
a) December 8, 2011, this referred to MBA Fee/Levy Committee for action.
b) December 14, 2011, Manitoba Farm Products Marketing Council advised of MBA plan to revise current admin fee regulation in early 2012.
c) February 29, 2012. MBA met with MFPMC to present information on the sector, MBA Authority, and present the Order for approval.
d) March 7, 2012. MBA Amendment Order approved by MFPMC and registered as Regulation 19/2012 and published in the Manitoba Gazette on March 17, 2012.
7. APPRECIATION
WHEREAS: Beekeepers appreciate the inspection program and its assessment of both hobby and commercial operations, and
WHEREAS: Extension Staff support the beekeeping industry through organizing education and research symposiums,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that MBA inform the Manitoba Ag Minister of our appreciation for the work Rhéal and David do for our industry.
a) December 8, 2011, this referred to President Allan Campbell for actioning.
b) March 14, 2012, Letter sent to Min Ron Kostyshyn, welcoming to his new position and expressing apprecistion for staff in “crops” section of his department.
8 APIVAR EUR
WHEREAS Provinces across Canada, successfully applied for and received approval from Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for Emergency Use Registration (EUR) of Apivar for the period 1July 2011 to 30 June 2012, and
WHEREAS producers continue to be concerned about the limited number of options for varroa mite control, and require the treatment option that Apivar provides
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that if Apivar is not registered by the expiration date of the EUR by June 30th, 2012, MBA work with others to seek Emergency Use Registration of Apivar for 2012-2013 season.
a) December 8, 2011, this referred to MBA’s Pest and Pest Management Committee for actioning during 2012.
b) March 14, 2012, MBA submitted a Letter of Support to PMRA. LOS to be included in the Application package being prepared on behalf of all provinces (except Newfoundland & Labrador-no varroa) by Saskatchewan. MBA LOS to be included in the package as well.
c) July 2012, Pest Management Regulatory Agency approved Apivar for use by producers (see previous Resolution).
9 BOARD SIZE
WHEREAS the amount of producers eligible for the MBA board is not changing significantly and,
WHEREAS many eligible members have already served terms on the MBA board,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA determine the feasibility of operating with a 7 member board.
a) December 8, 2011, this referred to Fee/Levy Committee to review MBA bylaws and develop an appropriate plan for presentation at 2012 Annual Meeting for approval.
b) Committee reviewed creation of regions within Manitoba, yet determined real issue of few volunteers could be alleviated by encouraging Registered Non Voting members to become fully registered.
10 PEST NAMING
WHEREAS additional honey bee pests are becoming more prevalent than in the past and,
WHEREAS there is interest in importing genetics into countries such as Chile,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA support s naming of Asian Mite (Tropilallaps) nationally as a notifiable pest.
a) december 8, 2011, this referred to Pest and Pest Management Committee for discussion with MAFRI staff.