MARCH 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC
BCFGA president Fred Steele returned by acclamation Rival withdraws name hours before ballot
Stories by TOM WALKER
PENTICTON – Fred Steele has claimed a third term as president of the BC Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA). Steele won the job by acclamation, running unopposed for the position after long-time rival Jeet Dukhia withdrew his name several hours before balloting was to take place at the BCFGA’s 128th annual convention, February 2-3 in Penticton. Before the elections got
underway, Dukhia, who is president of the BC Tree Fruits Co-operative, was asked to confirm he was not running “Yes,” he said, “that is
correct. I am not running for ‘president.’”
Then, a surprise motion
was presented to open nominations for vice- president from the floor, promoting speculation about the source of the nomination request. At fall nomination meetings, incumbent Pinder Dhaliwal was the only candidate nominated. The motion to re-open nominations for vice- president triggered a vote by the 148 registered members but it was defeated and Dhaliwal remained unchallenged. “I’d like to thank Jeet for his
efforts,” acknowledged Steele, “(and) the things he has done and will do for our association. Perhaps this is a new beginning.”
Issues
Steele went on to highlight the successful replant program, the Cherry Production Insurance Program, seasonal agriculture workers program (SAWP), wildlife encroachment and the national bare land replant
initiative among the issues the executive had tackled over the past year. “Instead of complaining
we didn’t have enough money in the provincial replant program, we told the government it was too successful and they came up with more money,” said Steele.
BCFGA joined with the BC
Cherry Association to recommend changes to the Cherry Production Insurance Program. Steele said he understood the province is considering implementing changes in 2018 or later.
Labour Steele singled out Dhaliwal
for his work as both deputy chair of the BC Agriculture Council’s labour committee and co-chair of the Canadian Horticulture Council’s labour committee. “The SAWP program celebrated 50 years service this past year,” Steele noted. “We have strived to improve the SAWP program and ensure its ongoing success.” New invasive pests are a concern, Steele added. “Where we used to have a new pest every five to 10 years, we now have them coming every three to five,” he said. “We need to be sure that we have the resources at the various levels to combat and control this.” Pests are not just small, six-
footed and winged; pestilential ungulates are also a nuisance. “I have come to the conclusion that a deer cull throughout the Okanagan is required,” said Steele. “The risks to human safety, the overcrowding of these animals in an urban setting and the damage they do to crops is significant.” The bare land replant or
It is one time in 20 years that the federal government did not say no,” said Steele. “We have a government today that said, ‘Bring us something and we’ll have a look.’” Steele believes the
program could be a winner for everyone – from young people looking to get into the industry to the packers who are looking to process more fruit. “We’ve got to get more
FRED STEELE
‘Rejuvenation’ program is now being handled by the Canadian Horticulture Council, Steele reported. The current proposal is a
partnership between BC, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia,
JEET DUKHIA
New Brunswick, PEI and the federal government to develop a program that would provide five-year, interest-free loans to plant bare land. “We have to get this right.
young growers on the land, but old trees and bare ground don’t get you a financing loan,” said Steele. “And it justifies increasing the productivity line and saying, ‘We can’t run this on 60-year- old equipment.’”
Steele explained that it’s
envisioned that the program will also help finance processing equipment.
Resolutions identify industry concerns PENTICTON – Each year, members of the BC
Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA) debate and vote on a number of resolutions that will be passed on to government as an indication of industry concerns. “My staff and I do review your resolutions
very seriously,” Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick told members attending their annual meeting in Penticton, February 3. “It would be helpful if perhaps your executive would prioritize. It makes it easier to go back to my ministry and say these are the top ones; what can we do with these?” Food safety, invasive pests and urban deer
were just some of the issues covered in resolutions that members discussed. “Frivolous” and “bordering on the ridiculous” was how growers described the growing number of food safety regulations. “This is getting carried away,” said Kelowna
grower Sam DiMaria in a discussion following a presentation by Canadian Horticulture Council executive director Rebecca Lee. “It would be different if we had a track record of a problem. I’ve never heard of anyone dying from eating an apple.”
See FRUIT GROWERS on next page o
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