Re: BCVMC Commission Decision to Suspend Payments to the BCGGA
- On September 17, 2024, the Commission issued a bulletin announcing the suspension of payments to the BC Greenhouse Growers Association (BCGGA). The bulletin referred to relevant history leading to this Commission decision.
Documents that provide additional information on the relevant history are provided below:
- September 26, 2022 – BCGGA wrote to the Minister advocating for new commodity board premised partly on bad faith allegations raised in part by a BCGGA Executive member. The BC Farm Industry Review Board (BCFIRB) determined there was no evidence to substantiate these unfounded allegations.
- Document: 2022-09-26 BCGGA Chair LT to Minister advocating for new commodity board.pdf
- November 8, 2022 – BCFIRB wrote to the BCVMC expressing conflict of interest concerns with Armand Vander Meulen, Chair of the BCGGA, and an elected BCVMC Commissioner, for lobbying the Ministry of Agriculture and Food directly for a separate greenhouse regulatory body.
- Document: 2022-11-08 BCFIRB LT to BCVMC re COI concerns with Armand Vander Meulen.pdf
November 29, 2022 – The BCVMC advised Armand Vander Meulen that his position and his activities to form a separate greenhouse regulatory body was fundamentally in conflict with the BCVMC and it was not tenable for him to hold a position on BCVMC while working against it on the BCGGA.
Document: 2022-11-29 BCVMC LT to Armand Vander Meulen.pdf
December 1, 2022 – BCFIRB letter affirms the BCVMC decision and actions with respect to Armand Vander Meulen’s conflict of interest as being appropriate.
Document: 2022-12-01 BCFIRB LT to BCVMC re COI decision and actions.pdf
May 23, 2024 – The BCVMC advised the BCGGA that levies established by the BCVMC under the 2007 Research and Industry Development Agreement to fund the program of the BCGGA cannot be used to establish a separate regulatory organization.
Document: 2024-05-23 BCVMC LT to BCGGA re Use of levies.pdf
May 29, 2024 – BCVMC wrote to the BCGGA following up on their efforts to establish a separate regulatory body. The BCVMC emphasized that such efforts are not aligned with BCVMC's interests, and levy proceeds collected by the BCVMC cannot be used to fund an MNP Marketing Study.
Document: 2024-05-29 BCVMC LT to BCGGA re Followup on efforts for new commodity board.pdf
June 21, 2024 – The BCGGA wrote to the BCVMC advising that they do not agree with the BCVMC assertion that levy proceeds cannot be used to fund the MNP Marketing Study. Consistent with directions from the BCFIRB, it is the Commission’s view there is no circumstance in which Commission funds could be used to undermine the Scheme. Nevertheless, the BCGGA claims that no funds received from the Commission were used for that purpose.
Document: 2024-06-21 1. BCGGA LT to BCVMC May 29 letter.pdf
July 16, 2024 – The BCVMC wrote to the BCFIRB to apprise them of the activities of the BCGGA and their efforts to remove greenhouse vegetables from the regulatory authority of the BCVMC. In this letter, the BCVMC provided a review and analysis of the context of the BCGGA proposal. This letter was also provided to the BCGGA.
Document: 2024-07-16 BCVMC LT to Chair Donkers re BCGGA actions re Separate Commission.pdf
July 24, 2024 – Representatives of the BCVMC and BCGGA met and agreed there are some issues with the current Research and Industry Development Agreement. The BCVMC expressed its intention to improve the existing funding process and to provide better oversight and control over levies imposed by the BCVMC. Both parties agreed to meet in September to resolve any agreement shortcomings.
Document: 2024-09-03 BCVMC LT to BCGGA re July 24 WWH document.pdf
By telephone call on September 9, 2024, the BCGGA advised the BCVMC that its Executive was unwavering in its pusuit of a separate greenhouse vegetable commission, despite advising it had not heard the views of producers and industry stakeholders.
Document: 2024-09-10 BCVMC LT to BCGGA.pdf